Judson enjoying a record-setting season
Becky Stenning knew coming into the season that her Judson University softball team had the potential to do great things.
And the Eagles have.
With Wednesday's Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference sweep of Cardinal Stritch in Milwaukee, Judson has established a new school record for wins for the third straight season. The Eagles stood at 27-21 after Thursday night's nonconference doubleheader loss to NCAA Division II opponent Lewis University.
The Eagles have been a hitting machine this season, fashioning a .299 team batting average and scoring nearly 5 runs per game. In their last 14 games they've gone 11-3 and averaged over 7 runs per game.
"We hit like we're on fire," said Stenning, now in her sixth year at the Elgin NAIA school and the all-time winningest coach in program history. "We're a good hitting team and we're still young mentally. But this team is rewriting the record books."
And how. The Eagles are 19 hits, 10 runs, 4 RBI and 6 home runs away from shattering the school marks in those categories and they've already set the school record for doubles in a season with 66. Individually, several records have or are getting ready to fall, the bulk of them by NCCAA All-American Nicole Dimiceli, a versatile junior from Lake Park who is catching this season for Judson.
Dimiceli already holds the school career records for hits (199), RBI (150), doubles (43) and home runs (27). She needs just 4 hits and 2 home runs to break the single-season records in those areas and her 58 RBI this season broke the record of 47 she set last year.
"It's just constant improvement from year to year," said Dimiceli, who is hitting .423 this season with 13 homers and a .771 slugging percentage and just 10 strikeouts in 157 at-bats. "I just try working harder and harder every year."
"Nicole will always be a leader," Stenning said. "She's having another great year."
Judson is also getting another steady performance from junior third baseman, Burlington Central grad Carrie Sensor, who is hitting .325 with 13 RBI from the No. 2 spot in the order, as well as sophomore leadoff hitter Concetta Lampugnano of Bartlett, who is hitting .320. The two have combined to strike out only 25 times in 313 at-bats. Stenning has also been pleased with the play of College of DuPage transfer Danielle Curylo. Sensor holds the Judson career record for runs scored with 131 and is 11 shy of the single season mark.
In the pitchers circle, Judson has benefited from the experience of senior Lizzy Jacobson, an Elgin High graduate who is 13-6, and freshmen Hallie Niewold (5-2, 3 saves) of Downers Grove North and Sarah Boyer (8-6) of McHenry. Jacobson is also hitting .318 with 4 homers and 35 RBI. In the circle, she needs just one win to break the single-season school record and she needs just 1 strikeout to break the school career record of 228.
"We didn't want to pitch Jake at all this year but she's done her job," said Stenning, whose team lost last year's top pitcher, Virginia McAndrews, when she decided not to return to the team. "Hal comes in and does her job, the defense has been pretty solid and we're doing it with the bats."
"Our pitching staff has really stepped it up and the freshmen have come in and stepped it up," said Dimiceli. "Everyone's contributing."
After going 26-25 last season, the Eagles set 30 wins as their goal for this season. With four more regular season games to play, the NCCAA regional and the CCAC tournament, that goal should be reached.
"They're clicking better than last year," Stenning said. "They mesh as a team so much better. When we play at our level we're golden. We just have to make sure we don't play down a level.
"God has really blessed us this season. They're fun to watch and they're a fun group when they're up and enjoying life."