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11:56 a.m. Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Early errors spell trouble in baseball’s first-round A-10 loss

by The GW Hatchet

The baseball team cheers on their teammates during a game this season. The Colonials fell 8-2 to Xavier in the first round of the A-10 tournament Wednesday. Hatchet file photo by Cameron Lancaster | Contributing Photo Editor

This post was written by Hatchet reporter Josh Solomon. 

Senior center fielder Ryan Hickey, shading to left field on a defensive shift, sprinted for a line drive in the right-center field gap. He laid out for the ball, momentarily catching it in flight, but as his body landed on the turf field, the ball popped out and rolled away. Two runs scored and Xavier’s lead grew bigger.

It was that kind of day where even a calculated shift seemed to go in the Musketeers’ favor in GW’s 8-2 loss in the first round of the double-elimination Atlantic 10 tournament in Charlotte, N.C..

“That’s why it’s baseball, because the guy did something he maybe wouldn’t do eight out of 10 times or nine out of 10 times,” associate head coach Tom Sheridan said.

The game was not easy for fifth-seed GW, which hurt itself itself with three errors they committed in the first inning, leading to three Xavier runs and squelching the momentum the Colonials had built with a red-hot final three weeks of their season.

Junior Luke Staub battled from the beginning, but started the game with a leadoff walk. Staub then struck out the next batter, but the baserunner stole second on the third strike. The next batter cracked a double to right field, driving in a run. Staub then ran the count full to next batter before hitting him.

The wheels then came off in the inning. Usually reliable second baseman Justin Albright booted a weak ground ball off the heel of his glove as he tried to make the play too to turn a double play. Another fielding and throwing later, and GW was in a 3-0 hole.

The Colonials’ defensive lapses looked even worse during their turn at bat, when Xavier put on a defensive clinic.  Following a strikeout looking to start the inning, freshman Eric Kalman swung at the first pitch in the at bat, sending, Xavier right fielder Mitch Elliott racing towards foul territory. He approached the belt-high bullpen fence, leaned over and caught the slicing foul ball as his momentum took him over the fence, landing on his back but holding on.

After Hickey’s near-diving catch on the outfield shift, Staub, GW’s ace, kept his ball club in the game though through his six innings, giving up four hits and three earned runs.

“How you handle adversity on the mound really defines who you are as a pitcher. You really cant ride the highs and lows. You got to stay with the mental approach the entire course of the game,” Staub said.

Freshman Jacob Williams came in to pitch the seventh, but quickly worked his way into trouble. Senior Brian Derner came in with two outs to stop the bleeding but gave up a two-run single to bring the total to eight runs for Xavier.

It was not until the ninth inning in which the Colonials threatened, as senior Tyler McCarthy prevented a shutout by ripping a ball up the middle, outside the reach of the diving second baseman to score two runs. Xavier secured the final out, nailing down the 8-2 loss for GW.

“Naturally we are disappointed that we didn’t do as well as we would’ve like to but I know that guys will be determined, we’ll come back tomorrow and we’ll play hard and we’ll see what happens. We’re here for a reason because we had a good season,” Sheridan said.

GW will play Thursday night against one of four potential teams: two-seeded Charlotte, third-seeded Rhode Island, sixth-seeded La Salle or seventh-seeded Richmond. The winner of that game will continue and the loser will be out of the tournament in the double-elimination format.

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Tuesday, April 30, 2013 7:29 p.m.

Two women’s tennis players take all-conference honors

by The GW Hatchet

This post was written by Hatchet staff writer Jake Deitcher.

Junior Leah Pascarella served during a match played earlier this season. Pascarella and Lana Robins were named to the A-10 All-Conference teams Tuesday. Hatchet File Photo by Becky Crowder | Senior Staff Photographer

After a loss in the A-10 semifinals to UMass, the season may be over for the women’s tennis team, but some Colonials are still racking up honors off the court.

Junior Leah Pascarella and freshman Lana Robins were named to the Atlantic 10 Women’s Tennis All-Conference team Tuesday. Pascarella earned a first team bid, while Robins notched second team honors.

“We are very excited for Leah and Lana to receive All-Conference awards,” head coach Dawn Buth said in a release. “We are very proud of all of the hard work Leah has put in during her three years. Lana has also been a tremendous addition to our program as her work ethic and determination are second to none.”

Pascarella has now earned A-10 postseason honors for the third straight year, after being named a member of the second team after both her freshman and sophomore seasons.  Pascarella played No. 1 singles and doubles for the Colonials, finishing the season with a 15-14 singles record and a 7-7 doubles mark.

Pascarella was also named A-10 Co-Performer of the Week on Feb. 27, after her victory over UMBC helped lead GW to its fourth straight victory.

Robins enjoyed a strong debut season as a Colonial, where she posted a 15-11 record from the No. 2 singles position, and an 8-8 record, also from the No.2 doubles slot.  Her three straight doubles victories helped GW take home the Georgetown Fall Classic doubles title this fall.

Together, the pair compiled an overall record of 11-8 and a conference record of 4-1 at the Nos. 1 and 2 singles and doubles slots, respectively.

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Tuesday, April 23, 2013 8:18 p.m.

David Pellom to transfer to Memphis

by Nick Ong

Almost a month after David Pellom was granted a release from the men’s basketball team, the senior forward will officially leave the Colonials to head to the University of Memphis.

Then-junior forward David Pellom drives to the basket during the 2011-2012 season. He’ll head to Memphis and be able to play immediately. Hatchet File Photo

The news was first reported by The Commercial Appeal, a Tennessee newspaper, Tuesday night.

His official transfer marks an offseason in which head coach Mike Lonergan has seen two other players – sophomore Jonathan Davis and senior Lasan Kromah – leave the program. Former recruit Nigel Johnson also decommitted to head to Kansas State, another sour note in the Colonials’ offseason.

Following his release on March 26, Pellom still had the opportunity to return to GW for his final season of eligibility, though that was always an unlikely scenario. With Memphis, Pellom will be able to play right away as a graduate student transfer.

Pellom’s departure leaves junior forward Nemaja Mikic as the final player on the roster who was recruited by former Colonials’ head coach Karl Hobbs.

The news officially opens up another roster and scholarship slot for next year’s team, even after the offseason additions of Nick Griffin, Skyler White and Miguel Cartagena.

Pellom did not play a single game for the Colonials this past season, sidelined by a series of surgeries in the offseason, as well as a lingering left wrist issue.  During his junior season, Pellom led GW in rebounds, averaging 6.1 a game over 27 games. On the offensive side, he set a single-season shooting record on 68.5 percent shooting.

 

 

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Friday, April 19, 2013 1:23 p.m.

Women’s tennis team advances to A-10 quarterfinals

by Elizabeth Traynor
tennis, mimi, hamling

Senior Mimi Hamling reaches for a hit at a game against Saint John’s University last season. Hatchet File Photo

This post was written by Hatchet reporter Nora Princiotti.

The women’s tennis team won when it counted in the first round of the 2013 Atlantic 10 Championship, beating Saint Joseph’s 4-3 Thursday.

The sixth-seeded Colonials (11-7) eked out a narrow victory against the 11th-seeded Hawks (13-11) in a four-hour battle that came down to the No. 3 singles match.

With the match tied at 3 apiece, senior Mimi Hamling sealed the win for her team by beating Saint Joseph’s Devi Jadeja 6-4, 7-5. This is the second year in a row in which GW has eliminated Saint Joseph’s in the first round.

GW’s next task, a quarterfinal match against third-seeded Massachusetts, started Friday at 1 p.m.  The Minutewomen advanced with a decisive 5-0 sweep over 14th-seeded Dayton. GW last faced Massachusetts in 2008, when the Minutewomen came away with a 6-1 victory.

“The inches will matter today, so our ability to be disciplined in our percentages and shot selection combined with an aggressive mentality in the doubles will be key,” head coach Dawn Buth said.

Against the Hawks, the Colonials secured the doubles point and a 1-0 lead in the Nos. 2 and 3 matches.  GW’s second doubles tandem of senior Dorota Lysenia and freshman Lana Robins cruised to an 8-2 win over Kristina Eisenbrand and Lauren Roy, while the No. 3 freshman duo of Egle Jakuciunaite and Stephanie Wei fought their way to an 8-6 triumph over Jadeja and Kelly Mulquin.

Buth said the girls fed off of each other’s momentum in the win.

“Stephanie’s decisive match at No. 3 gave us immediate momentum. Christie’s win at No. 6 helped Mimi pull out the clinching match,” she said.

Wei rolled to a two-set win over Eisenbrand, 6-0, 6-2, at No. 3 singles, to stretch the Colonials’ lead to 2-0. Freshman Christina Carpenter made it 3-0 with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Roy in the No. 6 match, and Hamling sealed the victory in her extra-set win over Jadeja.

A win over Massachusetts would send the Colonials to the semifinals of the A-10 championship for the first time since 2010.

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Monday, April 15, 2013 9:27 p.m.

Two softball players sweep A-10 weekly awards

by Elizabeth Traynor

Freshman Victoria Valos steps up to bat during a home game against Charlotte. Hatchet File Photo.

This post was written by Hatchet reporter Sean Hurd.

The softball team continued its winning ways Monday when two Colonials players swept the Atlantic-10 weekly awards.

Sophomore slugger and Colonial standout Victoria Valos was awarded the A-10 player of the week, while freshman ace Meghan Rico earned A-10 pitcher of week as well as A-10 rookie of the week nods.

Valos, who had a record-breaking weekend offensively for the Colonials, was also named A-10 player of the week by College Sports Madness. This past weekend, the Colonials shortstop went five-for-10 with two home runs, seven runs batted in, and six runs scored. Valos also carried a 1.100 slugging percentage with a .688 on-base percentage.

Valos’ game of the week came this past Saturday afternoon when the Colonials played their first game against the visiting Bonnies of St. Bonaventure. he went three-for-four with two home runs, three runs batted in, and three runs scored. Valos jumpstarted the Colonials offense on multiple occasions, giving the Colonials the lead after a leadoff home run in the fifth inning, and winning the game for the Colonials after a two-run walk off homerun by Valos in the bottom of the seventh cemented a 7-5 GW victory.

With the seven runs batted in over the weekend, Valos made GW history, breaking the single-season RBI record of 33, a record Valos tied at the end of last season. Valos now holds the record, which stands at 38 runs batted in with 13 regular season games left to play.

Valos currently ranks second in the A-10 in home runs with 10, third in slugging with a percentage of.738, fourth in runs with 30, and fifth in runs batted in with 38. She is batting a team-best .359 and leads GW with 10 home runs, 38 RBIs and 30 runs scored

The award is Valos’ first career Player of the Week nod. She was named A-10 Rookie of the Week April 9, 2012. Valos is the first Colonial to be named Player of the Week since senior centerfielder Autumn Taylor earned the award April 30, 2012.

While Valos led the Colonials on the offensive end, freshman pitcher Meghan Rico led the Colonials defensively earning her her first ever A-10 pitcher and A-10 rookie of the week awards. Rico is the first-ever Colonial to be named both Pitcher and Rookie of the Week in the same week.

Rico is the second Colonial to earn Rookie of the Week this season, joining freshman first baseman Carlee Gray who earned the honor March 19. Rico is also the first Colonials pitcher to be named pitcher of the week since Heidi Penna did it last season, earning the award April 23, 2012.

Simply put, Rico was virtually unstoppable in the circle for the Colonials last week. In three appearances, including two starts, she went 3-0 with a 0.54 ERA, striking out 18 and allowing just one run on five hits in 13.0 innings, holding opponents to a .116 batting average.

As a starter, Rico netted victories against Mount St. Mary’s and St. Bonaventure, while tacking on a relief win in the first game of the St. Bonaventure double header.

Rico’s first victory verses Mount St. Mary’s was dominant. She gave up only one run on three hits and struck out eight.

The native of Wrentham, Mass., continued her success in the first game of the St. Bonaventure doubleheader, where she earned a victory for her solid seventh inning of relief.

The freshman phenom then closed out a near perfect weekend by tossing a two-hit shutout and striking out nine St. Bonaventure hitters in the backend of the day’s double-header. The shutout recorded by Rico was her fourth clean sheet of the season.

Rico is 11-7 on the season with a 2.88 ERA and 104 strikeouts. She ranks second in the A-10 in opponent batting average (.178), third in wins and fifth in strikeouts.

Valos, Rico and the Colonials return to action on Friday where they will put their record seven game win streak on the line when GW visits Atlantic 10 rival Rhode Island.

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Wednesday, April 10, 2013 2:08 p.m.

Men’s tennis freshman picks up third straight rookie award

by Elizabeth Traynor

Courtesy of GW Athletics Communications

This post was written by Hatchet reporter Sam Johnson.

Freshman Danil Zelenkov earned A-10 rookie of the week honors again this week, his third straight award and fifth this season. It’s the most weekly awards given to an A-10 freshman since 1999.

The announcement on Tuesday came after his outstanding weekend performance, where he helped the Colonials to a 2-0 weekend.  Zelenkov was undefeated in both No. 3 and No. 2 singles as No. 67 GW continued its winning streak with a 5-2 victory over St. John’s. He was also undefeated at Georgetown Sunday afternoon.

The freshman has maintained a 12-4 record on the season and, along with his team, is on a five-match singles winning streak.

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Tuesday, April 9, 2013 11:07 a.m.

Kevin Sutton submits name for Florida Gulf Coast coaching job

by Elizabeth Traynor
men's basketball assistant coach Kevin Sutton

Men’s basketball assistant coach Kevin Sutton. Hatchet File Photo

Updated 2:01 p.m.

Men’s basketball assistant coach Kevin Sutton wants to go to Dunk City.

He’s submitted his name for the head coach opening at Florida Gulf Coast University, Seth Soffian of The News-Press reports. The slot is open after Andy Enfield accepted the USC coaching position, following FGCU’s Cinderella run in the NCAA tournament this year.

Athletics communications declined to make Sutton available for comment, and said there would be no statement from anyone with the program on the news.

Sutton is one of many coaches to express interest in the position, according to the News-Press. Should GW’s assistant coach get hired, he would also be the latest in a series of departures for the men’s basketball team that include the transfers of senior guard Lasan Kromah and sophomore forward Jonathan Davis, the potential transfer of senior forward David Pellom and the de-commitment of heralded recruit Nigel Johnson.

Head coach Mike Lonergan has not commented on the program’s departures beyond statements in press releases. The athletics communication department has declined to make both Lonergan and players available for comment.

Should the assistant coach depart the program, it would likely be a blow to Lonergan’s recruiting system, now of crucial importance with the multiple roster hits the team’s taken in recent weeks.

Sutton is in his second season with the Colonials, after Lonergan brought him on in May 2011. Prior to his stint in Foggy Bottom, Sutton boasted Florida ties, serving as the athletic director and head coach of the boys’ basketball team at Montverde Academy for eight years. Under his leadership, the Eagles earned a 2007 National Title and were 2010 National High School Invitational Runners-Up. Montverde was No. 13 in the final USA Today rankings in 2011, finishing the season with a 22-4 record.

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Saturday, March 30, 2013 1:28 p.m.

Freshman becomes first squash player in GW history to earn All-American nod

by Elizabeth Traynor

Freshman Anna Gabriela Porras is the first squash player, men’s or women’s, in GW program history to earn an All-American nod.

Anna Gabriela Porras. Photo courtesy of GW Sports Information

Porras was named to the College Squash Association’s Second Team All-American yesterday. The Bogota, Colombia, native led the Colonials this season with 16 individual victories, recording just four losses on the season.

Competing throughout her rookie campaign at the No. 1 slot on the ladder, Porras was the only member of GW’s roster to win all three of her matches CSA Women’s National Team Championships in February. She closed the season on an eight-match win streak, and is just one of four non-Ivy League players to be named an All-American on the 20-member First and Second Teams.

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Friday, March 29, 2013 10:51 p.m.

Women’s lacrosse team hangs on for tight victory over Richmond

by Elizabeth Traynor

Senior Nicole Lacey dodges a Richmond defender during Friday afternoon’s game on the Mount Vernon Campus. Jordan Leon | Hatchet Photographer

This post was written by Hatchet staff writer Sophia Omuemu.

With five minutes left in play, the Colonials were tied at 10 against the Richmond Spiders. Then, sophomore Jenn Seitz was able to win one of the most important draw controls of the game, directly leading to the Colonials’ one point victory, 11-10.

“We told them that this is our time and to relax. We scored and then we came up with a huge draw at the end,” head coach Tara Hannford said.

The Colonials burst into the first half of play by showing off their patient yet quick passing. After sending a series of cutters through the middle of the box, freshman Olivia Boudreau was able to maneuver her way towards the goal, with an assist from sophomore Jamie Bumgardner.

Bumgardner followed after with a straight shot to the goal increasing GW’s lead to 2-0. But despite not having a single point on the board, the Spiders continued to keep calm, which led to their first goal off of a free position shot.

Still, Hannaford said, the Colonials weren’t discouraged. Their recent performances, the head coach said, help the team stay positive throughout play.

“I think our team is on a upswing right now. We’re getting better every game, so I think it’s a tribute to how hard our team works,” Hannaford said.

The next 10 minutes of play consisted of two goals from each team. Senior attack Nicole Lacey netted her 23rd goal of the season of off a free position shot. Five minutes later, the Spiders replied, but GW was able to keep its one-point lead with a goal from sophomore Rachel Mia.

Prior the end of the first half, Lacey tallied another goal with 1.4 seconds left. Both teams had attempted seven shots and obtained three draw controls, previewing the close second half that was to come.

“This was a huge turning point game because it was our first A-10 game. It sets the tone,” said Lacey. “Richmond is usually at the top of all of the teams so this was a huge win for us.”

The importance of draw controls was apparent within the first 30 seconds of the second half. Richmond was able to score two goals within the first two minutes due to both of its draw wins.

The score was tied at six when Lacey was able to net her third goal of the game to give the Colonials another one-point lead. But in order to keep this lead, it was apparent that the team’s defense was going to have to stay alert and strong.

“I think we had a lot of different people scoring, so they couldn’t mark one person and stop us so the fact that everyone contributed was good,” Lacey said.

Senior goalkeeper Jess Hicks continued to make huge saves, while both teams traded goals. Hicks ended the game with seven saves, four of which were in the second half.

“Defensively, we were really prepared for our goal line extended shot and I think they only had one successful shot. We did a really good job denying that shot,” Lacey said.

After eight minutes of several turnovers and fouls, Mia was able to bounce the ball into the left side of the goal. Then, the Spiders replied with two strong goals, which led to the third tie of the game.

The Colonials took a timeout to regroup and think of a final game plan. Both coaches knew that the winner of the next draw control could ultimately decide the final score.

“[Hannaford] told us that we just really had to stay composed and the draw was really important. It would give us moment,” Boudreau said.

There was a sense of urgency in the air that led to some sloppy play- but Boudreau ultimately was able to net the game-winning goal through the Richmond goalkeeper’s legs with just two minutes left in play.

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Friday, March 29, 2013 3:42 p.m.

Nigel Johnson decommits from GW

by Elizabeth Traynor

Updated 5:16 p.m.

Incoming recruit Nigel Johnson is decommiting from GW.

“He just thinks that everything was going so fast for him that he wanted to take a step back and re-assess his decision,” Louis Wilson, the head coach at Riverdale Baptist, where Johnson is a senior, said.

Johnson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The guard was slated to be a member of the Colonials’ 2013-14 recruiting class, where he would have joined recruits Nick Griffin and Skyler White. But unlike Griffin, Johnson had yet to sign his National Letter of Intent, giving rise to speculation that he was considering cutting ties with GW.

He’s had an explosive senior year at Riverdale Baptist, which Wilson said may factor into Johnson’s desire to explore other options and potentially higher-level programs

“I’m sure, in the back of his mind, that’s a thought. I think that he just thought that he rushed into his situation early on and now he wants to take a step back and re-evaluate what he has,” Wilson said. “He only took, I believe he took two official visits, and I think he wants to find three more official visits so he can feel like he has completed the recruiting process.”

Wilson said he is unaware of any other schools Johnson may be considering.

“Not at this point,” Wilson said. “He just decommitted as I understand, last night.”

Johnson’s departure is a blow for head coach Mike Lonergan and the Colonials, who were already looking to incoming recruits as desperately needed boosters for the team’s shooting performance.

Wilson said that Johnson’s decision to decommit should not cast a negative light on the GW coaching staff, adding that the Colonials were always an attractive option for the senior guard.

“I don’t think it has anything to do with the coaching staff at GW. They’ve been fantastic, they’ve been awesome,” Wilson said. “I’m sure it has nothing to do with the coaching staff.”

Johnson’s exit leaves two open slots in the Colonials’ roster, with the potential for a third to come, after the news that sophomore forward Jonathan Davis will transfer from the program and senior forward David Pellom has been given a release.

The late signing period for 2013-14 recruits begins April 17.

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