Contact: Jeff Sattora
SETTING THE SCENE:The Vikings will head to Chicago this week for the 2013 Horizon League Championships Wednesday through Saturday. CSU will open the double-elimination tournament Wednesday with the week's very first game vs. Wright State at 11:00 a.m. CT. Cleveland State comes into the tournament as the league's fourth seed with a 10-9 league record, while Wright State heads into the tournament with a 10-11 league record as the fifth seed.
The two teams have met already three times this season, with Wright State taking two of those contests. Cleveland State took the opening game of the three game series 2-1, before falling 6-3 and 6-5 in the final two games.
LAST TIME OUT:CSU played six games last week, going 3-3 in that stretch. The Vikings first split a non-league doubleheader with Kent State; they then took down Robert Morris in one game Thursday before taking one of three games in a weekend series at UIC.
Dara Toman led the way during the week for the Cleveland State offense, batting .294 with four home runs and six RBI's. Erica McNew also hit the long ball well all week as she blasted three home runs of her own. McNew (18 home runs) and Toman (14 home runs) are currently one and two in the Horizon League in that category.
While Toman and McNew had the most power of the week, it was sophomore Cynthia Woodard who may have had the most exciting moment. Down 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning with two outs vs. Robert Morris Woodard delivered a two-run walk-off double to right field for the win, closing CSU's home schedule with a 4-3 victory.
AWARD WINNERS:Multiple Cleveland State Vikings were honored this week with end of the year league awards, presented by both the Horizon League and CollegeSportsMadness.com separately.
Two players highlighted the selections with individual honors for the Vikings. Erica McNew led the way with three selections, as she was named the CollegeSportsMadness.com Horizon League `Field Player of the Year,' as well as both the CollegeSportsMadness.com 'Freshman of the Year' and Horizon League `Newcomer of the Year.' The redshirt freshman catcher was also joined as a `Player of the Year' award winner by senior first baseman Dara Toman, who took home the Horizon League's `Player of the Year' honor. Both players were also first team `All-League' selections by both the Horizon League and CollegeSportsMadness.com.
Four Vikings were honored as `All-League' selections by the two outlets. Outside of McNew and Toman, second baseman Cynthia Woodard was a second team `All-League' selection by the Horizon League and pitcher Susan Knightwas a second team `All-League' selection by CollegeSportsMadness.com. McNew, Woodard and Knight were also `All-Newcomer' selections by the Horizon League.
CLIMBING THE CHARTS: Dara Tomanhas been rewriting both the Cleveland State and Horizon League record books throughout her stellar senior season in 2013. Heading into the league championships Toman owns the Horizon League and Cleveland State home run record (59), Cleveland State RBI record (152), Cleveland State runs scored record (140), and Cleveland State total bases record (431).
SHINING KNIGHT: Freshman Susan Knightis leading the Vikings on the mound with 15 wins on the year. In 33 total appearances in 2013 Knight has a 15-9 record with a 2.80 ERA and a team-leading 117 strikeouts.
McNEW LEADING THE WAY: CSU catcher Erica McNewis currently leading the Vikings offensively in 2013. On the year she leads CSU in batting average (.414), hits (55), home runs (18), RBI's (39) and runs scored (41).
2013 SEASON BREAKDOWN BY POSITION: (2013 stats in parentheses)
Pitchers- With only Sara Shields (2-3) returning to the Vikings who picked up a win last season, CSU is looking for a balanced team effort on the mound in 2013. Head Coach Angie Nicholson mentioned four players who she expects to be factors for CSU in the pitching spot in Sara Shields and Alex Radjen (4-8) as returners and Susan Knight (15-9) and Briana Combs (0-5)as freshman.
Catcher- Erica McNew (.414 BA, 18 HR, 39 RBI) will be leading the way at this position for the Vikings this season. After starting the first seven games of the year last year in the green and white (batting .136), she went down with a torn ACL and is ready to bounce back in 2013. Freshman Lauren Lookis also looking to compete for time behind the plate this year.
Infield- Dara Toman (.364 BA, 14 HR, 36 RBI), a 2012 Horizon League First Team selection, and Nena Doran (.190 BA), a 2012 All-Newcomer League selection will be returning in 2013 to lead a group with high expectations.
Filling out the infield is expected to be Cynthia Woodard (.262 BA, 38 hits) at second and Janessa Rivera-Keahi (.205 BA)at shortstop.
Outfield- Senior Caila Ferro (.237 BA)is expecting to lead the way for the Vikings in the outfield. After hitting .266 in 52 games last season she unfortunately went down with an injury and is ready to bounce back this year as a senior.
Others who will compete to fill starting roles alongside Woodard are freshman Katelind Phillips (.267 BA, 9 doubles), Alyson Broschk (.258 BA), Darien Ward (.209), and Allisha Silva, as well as returning players Afton Allred, and Hannah Yoe.