From
the bench
By Monica Levette Clark
On-line Forty-Niner
The
Dirtbags play Louisiana State University
this weekend in what will be a historical
series. The Tigers have ruled college baseball
and are making the school’s first trip to
play opponents on the West Coast.
Forgotten amongst the preparation for the
event is the 49er Softball team.
It is my belief that softball and the 49ers
who play it are tougher and more exciting
to watch than their Dirtbag counterparts.
Abe Alvarez and Jered Weaver have combined
to pitch a total of 47 innings, while softball
player Lindsey Knoff alone has equaled their
appearances and pitched 48 innings. In 12
games the Dirtbags have used the team’s
entire 12-man pitching staff. In 11 games
the 49er softball team has used three pitchers.
That’s right three.
Knoff almost matches Alvarez’s 1.23 ERA
with a 1.60 ERA of her own. Alvarez has
given up 21 hits in 82 at bats for a batter’s
average of .256. Knoff has faced 182 batters
giving 39 hits for an average of only .214.
The entire 12-man Dirtbag staff has pitched
107 innings. While Knoff, Meredith Cervenka
and Melissa Backstrom have thrown 77 innings.
The softball team’s dominance carries over
to its bats. The two players with the highest
batting average for the Dirtbags, while
starting at least ten games, are Tim Hutting
at .340 and Steve Velazco with .344.
In comparison the highest averages on the
softball team are .323 for Arleigh Thorp
and .412 for Lauren Johnson and three players
on the softball team have a slugging percentage
over .700, while only two Dirtbags are over
.600.
The argument against these facts is that
baseball is played by individuals that are
bigger, stronger and faster. That baseball
is played at longer distances on bigger
fields.
Yet, we must agree that baseball players
play players of like talent, like speed
and like strength. So, we must also agree
that softball players do the same.
All things equal softball is the tougher
of the two. Softball players utilize the
same equipment at shorter distances. The
same aluminum bats send the ball at players
that are standing much closer to the inherent
danger. I would much rather be hit by a
ball the size of my fist than a ball twice
that size. Hey, but the ball is softer,
right?
This weekend will be great for Dirtbag baseball.
But, let us not forget the 49er softball
team and Coach Pete Manarino’s 700th win.
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