PLNU's Williams Becomes All-Time Winningest GSAC Coach
Feb. 26, 2008
"God has blessed Point Loma Softball with a lot of great players, terrific assistant coaches, and a very supportive Athletic Department," said Williams. "We always have a lot of fun, but at the same time our team is committed to a lot of hard work and long hours"
Not only is Williams is not only a refection of Point Loma's commitment to softball, his is a reflection of GSAC's commitment to the sport. Lehman won 428 games as the head coach of Azusa Pacific from 1995-2005. Current California Baptist coach Mike Smith has 387 wins as a GSAC coach and 400 overall. Vanguard's Beth Renkoski has won 335 games and Frank Rizzo recently picked up his 300th win as Concordia's coach.
Williams might have claimed his milestone win earlier in the year but four games were cancelled and another postponed by rain. Monday's games were in jeopardy as well after Sunset Cliffs Park took a pounding by the most recent storm to hit
The twinbill started right on time but it took the NAIA No. 3 Sea Lions a few innings to get going. Holy Names came right at Point Loma in the second inning of the opener, reached on an infield hit, an error and a bunt single to load the bases with no outs. A failed squeeze by the Hawks was turned into a much-needed first out, however. Sea Lion starter Melissa Gomez reached back and fanned the next batter. A liner by Lyndsey Van Slyke was snared by first baseman Randi Mead for the third out, no damage done.
PLNU scored the first of their 15 runs on the day in the bottom of the third, getting to Hawks starter Elise Foster for three runs. The Sea Lions stole four bases and collected four hits in the frame, highlighted by a booming two-run double from Mead.
Designated player Amanda Addie drove the fourth run of the game in the next inning with left fielder Samantha Hall plating two more with a single in PLNU's three-run fifth. When Mead's RBI single scored pinch runner Katie Nagler with no outs in the sixth, the game was called due to the eight-run mercy rule.
Gomez went the distance and improved to 2-0 on the year, yielding just two hits and striking out seven. Foster was hung with the loss after allowing seven earned runs in four innings of work for HNU. Nichole Guttormsen tossed one inning of relief, giving up one run.
The Sea Lion offense was now warmed up despite the cold wind blowing in off the
Point Loma starter Tyler Lent won her first decision of the year in game two. The sophomore did not allow a hit in her five-inning stint, walking four and striking out six. Reliever Kira Wommer closed out the Hawks with a two innings in the circle in which she gave up just one hit that came on a very close call at first base. Four of the six outs recorded by Wommer came via the strike out.
The Sea Lions pounded out 26 hits and stole 16 bases in the twinbill. Addie went 5-for-7 with four runs scored, two RBI and five stolen bases. Gomez not only pitched well, she was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate. Outfielder/ first baseman Samantha Hall had four hits and drove in three, second baseman Kayla Luttmers and outfielder Erica Ricker were both 4-for-7.
Point Loma improved to 3-0 on the year and Williams won his 429th career game, all coming as coach of the Sea Lions.
"Winning requires hard work, but it is worth it," said Williams. "Not just because you beat someone else, but it is rewarding when you can walk off the field at the end of the day, sore and tired, knowing that today you were well prepared, your team fought hard against a worthy opponent, you gave your best effort and achieved victory."
PLNU hosts Cal State San Marcos on Tuesday to complete game two of last week's doubleheader that was called due to rain. The game will resume at 3:00 pm with CSSM batting in the first inning.
