WICHITA, Kan. — Closing the season on a torrid run to snag the final spot in the postseason, the Newman softball team heads to the 2017 Heartland Conference Softball Championship this weekend.
TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Thursday, May 4
Game 1: No. 4 Texas A&M International () vs. No. 5 Newman (), 11 a.m.
Game 2: No. 2 Lubbock Christian () vs. No. 3 Oklahoma Christian (), 1:30 p.m.
Game 3: No. 1 St. Mary's () vs. Winner Game 1, 4 p.m.
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 6:30 p.m. (Loser eliminated)
Friday, May 5
Game 5: Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3, noon
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 2:30 p.m. (Loser eliminated)
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 5, 5 p.m. (Loser eliminated)
Saturday, May 6
Game 8: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 7, noon
If Game 5 winner loses:
Game 9: Winner Game 8 vs. Loser Game 8, 2:30 p.m.
SCOUTING NEWMAN
The Jets (17-33, 10-9 Heartland) won eight of its final 12 games of the regular season, including winning the final four Heartland Conference series of the season. That stretch started as they won two of three at regular season champ St. Mary's, and they did the same against Rogers State and St. Edward's before winning the only game against Oklahoma Panhandle State to clinch the final spot.
Leaders
Jensen Cromer-.321 avg., 16 runs, 4 2B, 3 3B, 3 HR, 20 RBIs, .372 OBP
7-16, 3.97 ERA, 28 app., 153 IP, 54 BB, 87 SO
Mikayla Medbery-.315 avg., 19 runs, 9 2B, 1 3B, 17 RBIs .384 OBP, 17 SB
Erin Jankiewicz-.289 avg., 12 runs, 7 2B, 2 HR, 22 RBIs
Kate Smith-8-13, 4.02 ERA, 28 app., 139.1 IP, 38 BB, 85 SO
SCOUTING THE FIELD
It's the 16th time in 17 years that St. Mary's (40-10, 16-5 Heartland) has earned the regular season crown and hosted the Heartland Conference tournament. The Rattlers went down to the last weekend to lock up the title, sweeping St. Edward's. The series against the Jets was the only time the No. 19 Rattlers didn't take at least two out of three against a conference foe.
Lubbock Christian (35-16, 14-7 Heartland) picked up the second seed for the second straight year, a path that took them to the Heartland tournament championship a year ago. The Chaparrals won eight of their final nine league games and 12 of their last 14 overall. They have the top batting average in the conference at .330, and put up better than six runs per game.
Oklahoma Christian (31-21, 13-8 Heartland) earned the third seed for the second season in a row as well. The Eagles took two out of three against LCU and Newman, but dropped a pair against St. Mary's and Texas A&M International.
A year ago, TAMIU (18-33, 12-9 Heartland) took the fifth seed and won its first two games to reach the winner's bracket final. The Dustdevils went 5-7 over the second half of their league schedule, getting swept by St. Edward's and sweeping Oklahoma Panhandle State. They've scored a league-low 129 runs, an average of 2.5 per game.
COVERAGE
Live coverage will be available at www.newmanjets.com.
