Guest blogging today its Everett. Now that I have officially turned the blog over to Jonathan who is doing an excellent job, I thought I would get one in this week to tell you about a little known title UNC Asheville championship won over the weekend.
As some of you know, most of the athletic department staff were, at one time, student-athletes and the desire to compete continues after your playing days are done. One outlet for this competitive drive is summer league softball.
UNC Asheville has fielded a summer league softball team of a number of years with varying degrees of success in the Asheville City League. Playing in the Hospitality B League, this year’s version thrived under pressure. In fact, the team co-captained by Faculty Athletics Rep and Chemistry professor Herman Holt and play-by-play announcer Brendan Harrington performed better in tournament play than during the regular oh-um season.
The Doggers claimed the pre-season tournament title with a perfect 4-0 record. So, season expectations were high. However a number of one-run losses during the 10 week schedule gave Asheville just a 4-6 season record and a fourth place seed in the post-season tournament.
But alas, the Dogs once again showed their grit in tournament play. Defeating Scully’s in the opening round of the tournament. The Wine Guys handed the Doggers another one-run loss in the second game to push the Dogs into the loser’s bracket but that would be final loss of the summer for this group.
With their backs against the wall, UNC Asheville defeated Firestix and Scully’s once again to earn a berth in the loser’s bracket final. Then playing with their shortstop who was out of town, they came back to defeat Trauma Care and earn a spot in the final against the Wine Guys who they would have to beat twice.
After rallying to win the first game against the Wine Guys to force a winner take all final, Asheville fell behind by five runs heading to the home half of the sixth inning. The Doggers, playing their third game of the day, scored six times in the sixth inning to grab a one-run lead and then held on as Terri Brne got the last three outs in the top of the seventh to give UNC Asheville the championship.
UNC Asheville finished the summer with a 14-7 overall record but most impressively; Asheville went 10-1 in tournament action.
Congratulations to this group of UNC Asheville faculty and staff for giving the Bulldogs their first championship of 2009. Now, let us turn our attention and support our student-athletes who will hopefully bring more titles to campus this season.
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