Lancaster slugs, pitches her way to Siena
Schaumburg softball slugger and pitcher Alyssa Lancaster’s favorite number is 3.
Yes, for that famous slugging No. 3 who also pitched.
“Yep, the Bambino,” said Lancaster, referring to Babe Ruth, best known as a New York Yankee.
While she wears No. 23 for the Saxons, Lancaster sports the No. 3 with her travel team appropriately enough called the “Schaumburg Sluggers.”
So guess where Lancaster will be slugging and pitching for her college career?
Just a few hours from Yankee Stadium.
Lancaster has signed a letter of intent with Siena College in Albany, N.Y.
And she won’t have any complaints telling the Saints head coach she is a fan of Babe Ruth,
“Oh, he’s a big Yankees fan,” Lancaster said of Bill Lajeunesse, who is in his second season as the Siena coach after four seasons as the lead assistant.
He oversaw a turnaround from a 14-37 record in 2010 to a 20-25 mark last season. The 20 wins were the most for the Saints since 2005, and the team’s 8-8 record in MAAC play was its best since 2003.
There are no players from Illinois on the Siena roster this spring.
Lancaster has been one of the top players in Illinois. Last season, she batted .511 with 9 home runs, 11 doubles, 2 triples and a team-high 41 RBI. She struck out only three times.
“Alyssa will be a great asset to Siena,” said Schaumburg coach Ellen Stoddard. “With her work ethic, knowledge, passion, and leadership she is sure to see success while attending Siena.”
Lancaster really appreciated the small-school atmosphere at Siena.
“It’s different, quieter than here and a pretty small campus but I’ve always liked that,” she said. “You would think it’s a Division III school but it’s D-I.
“When I was there in January, I thought it was a good fit after meeting with the team and the coaches.”
The Siena coaches saw Lancaster in a summer tournament in Colorado when she was playing for the Sluggers.
“But I got lucky,” she said. “They weren’t able to get a pitcher they originally wanted and they had to go back to the drawing board and that’s when they wanted me again this winter.”
Lancaster isn’t sure what she will study, but she said she likes math and science and owns a 4.08 GPA.
So far, she has helped the Saxons to a 3-1 record with a 1-1 personal mark on the mound.
When she gets to Siena, she will be wearing the Saints green and gold colors, similar to the Green Bay Packers.
“No, I’m a Bears fan,” she said with a smile. “But I feel good to have this all done and know where I am headed. It’s nice to get it out of the way and concentrate on my final high school season.”
So far, she has helped the Saxons to a 3-1 record with a 1-1 personal mark on the mound.
“Alyssa is someone who works very hard and has a true love for the game of softball,” Stoddard added. “I am very proud that she has the opportunity to play college softball and continue with her career. Her character on the field and off the field is a true statement for what being a top notch softball player is all about.
“Alyssa has left her mark here at Schaumburg and will continue to make her statement in the future at Siena. I wish her the best of luck next year.”
Ÿ Robert Morris-Springfield pitcher Julianne Waite (Conant) threw a no-hitter and shut out Rose-Hulman Technical 4-0.
She struck out four and walked none.
Kivland remembered
Starting time for Wednesday’s tribute to Pat Kivland will be at 6 p.m. at Prospect’s home boys gymnastics meet.
Kivland died last Nov. 15 after fighting Pulmonary Fibrosis.
There will be a brief presentation to Kivland’s family and a moment of silence for Pat.
He was the dean of Mid-Suburban League boys gymnastics coaches when he left the post in 2010 after 36 seasons. He was also a boys and girls diving coach and girls golf coach at Prospect.
Kivland retired from the physical education department in 2004. His boys gymnastics teams were MSL champs in 2004 and ’05. Kivland is a former gymnast at Prospect, where he placed second in the all-around at the 1965 state meet. He also set numerous records when he was a gymnast at Indiana.
“Pat was so dedicated to Prospect and gymnastics,” said Knights athletic director Tom Martindale. “We would like all friends of Pat to have the opportunity to come to Prospect and be a part of the evening. Pat touched so many lives.”
Sibling rivalry
The Rothstein sisters are facing off again.
Holly is the junior varsity softball coach at Maine South while younger sister Laura has the same position at Maine West.
Holly and Laura, who are three years apart in age, provided the Prospect High School softball team a Rothstein playing left field for six straight seasons and they were all-area selections.
Their teams are scheduled to meet today at 4:30 p.m. in Des Plaines.
Rugby
The Arlington Stallions Rugby Club will begin competition in Saturday in Tier One of the Illinois Youth Rugby Association.
Head coach Paul Bergman said this is highest level of competition available to high school clubs in Illinois.
The Stallions will play the Naperville High School Rugby Club in varsity and junior varsity matches starting at 10:30 a.m. at Commissioner’s Park.
Bergman said the move to Tier One was logical after a successful 2011 season.
“We played terrific rugby last season with a side made up predominantly of underclassmen,” he added. “Our first-team all-staters (John Maevski, Kevin Lydon and Ray Banak) provide great leadership and skill and we have two second-season players in Joey Conley (Buffalo Grove) and Jake Gorman (Conant) who will give our side a substantial physical presence.
“We’ve experienced very positive growth this year and we’re very excited to see the results of the blend of new faces and players who started as middle schoolers over the last few seasons.”
For more information about the Stallions, go to wwww.arlingtonstallionsrugby.com.
Ÿ Please email Sports Notes items to jleusch@dailyherald.com or FAX to (847) 427-1173.