SOFTBALL: 2008 Graduating Seniors
May 13, 2008
Alma, Mich.- The group of seniors who have finished their careers as Scots with the conclusion of the 2008 Softball season have been quality leaders and unmatched in their ability to represent what it means to be a DIII student-athlete at Alma College over their four years on campus.
Liana Easterby (Troy) came to the Scots as a power hitting middle infielder and although her collegiate career numbers wouldn't blow you away, her impact as a vocal leader and her ability to keep her teammates in the game and their morale high, could not easily be matched.
From her post at the home plate side of the dugout, Easterby's voice could be heard from the first pitch until the final out as she led cheers, encouraged her teammates, and vested herself in the success of her team and served her role to the best of her ability. In a time when it has become regular for athletes to be selfish, Easterby was selfless in her four years at Alma College and is a shining example of what it means to be a good teammate.
Much like Easterby, Taylor Erwin (Fenton) was a solid leader for the Scots and was willing to do whatever it took to help the Scots win. When Erwin was asked to make the move from outfield to firstbase, she did so with a smile on her face because it was what was best for the team. In her 121 games played and 115 games started, 29 times Erwin sacrificed herself at the plate to move a runner over and was one of the most dependable bunters ever to wear the Maroon and Cream.
Erwin finished with a career batting average of .261 and slugging and on base percentages over .300. She also recorded 398 putouts while committing only 12 errors in her entire career. Erwin's 22 strikeouts in 299 at bats is testament to her strike zone awareness and her ability to put the ball in play. All and all, Erwin was a dependable player who did the little things it takes to win and had a very good career with the Scots.
Amy Gaudard (Mt. Pleasant) was a four year starter with the Scots at shortstop and proved herself as an elite player in the MIAA.
Gaudard finishes her career with a .376 career batting average (fourth all-time at Alma), 186 hits (third all-time), 34 doubles (fourth all-time), 10 homeruns (sixth all-time), and 99 RBI's (third all-time) to firmly place herself as one of the best softball players to take the field at Alma College.
Gaudard, whose 162 starts places her fourth all-time, has become such a mainstay at the shortstop position that her excellent play and consistency has become normalcy. However, her .942 fielding percentage and her .537 slugging percentage indicate that both her bat and her glove will be hard to replace in the years to come.
Missy Morcom (Chelsea) is, without a doubt, one of the best student-athletes to ever step foot on Scots Park.
Early on in her career, Morcom split her time between secondbase and centerfield before becoming the Scots everyday centerfielder. Known for her incredible work ethic, Morcom transformed herself into the best outfielder in the MIAA, as runners did not test her arm, and her glove was almost flawless as she recorded 43 putouts with only one error her senior year.
Morcom finishes with the most homeruns (22), second most runs scored (125), second most walks (60), third most doubles (35), third most RBI's (99) and the tenth highest batting average (.347) in the history of Alma College- scattering her name across the record books and taking up her place in the lineage of outstanding Lady Scots' softball players.
Posted: Tue, May 13th, 2008 at 10:07AM
