With first-year head coach Jennifer Patrick leading the way, the York College softball team is off to a great start this season.
After Wednesday’s doubleheader win over Villa Julie College, the Spartans are nearing the season’s mid-point with an 8-4 record.
Sophomore shortstop Heather Bormann leads the way with an impressive .556 batting average. She has 25 hits, an average of more than two hits per game and has stolen six bases in six attempts.
Freshman Kelly Smith has been a great addition, hitting .432 and is tied for the team lead with 11 RBIs. The third baseman has swiped four bags and raises eyebrows with just two strikeouts in 42 plate appearances.
Dallastown graduates and pals Ali Merrifield and Andrea Tombesi are back as well, each starting all 12 games.
The junior Merrifield has played catcher, first base, second base, right field and DH this season. The former Wildcat is batting .324 and has fanned just once in 38 plate appearances and despite playing four positions in the field, she has not made an error in 24 chances.
The power-hitting senior Tombesi, is the other Spartan with 11 RBIs and is hitting .284 with a team-high two home runs. She also leads the team with seven walks.
Key for York has been the pitching Megans. Senior Megan Mickles has yielded just 1.79 earned runs per game and has struck out 41 batters in 27 1/3 innings. Sophomore Megan Lahner is 4-0 with a 3.08 ERA in 36 1/3 innings pitched.
Spartan academic awards: York College’s field hockey team posted a stellar 3.46 cumulative grade point average, which placed them tied for third with Eastern University among NCAA Division III field hockey teams.
Only Springfield (3.69) and Vassar (3.58) Colleges were ranked higher than York.
The Spartans placed 14 on the Division III National Academic field hockey team, including YAIAA grads Catie Hare (South Western), Nicole Starner (Biglerville), April McFarland (Eastern York), Veronica Eltz (Delone Catholic) and Casey Lawrence (Delone).
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