Central Michigan University Athletics
Softball Heads To Florida
2/26/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 26, 2001
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THE TEAM--The Central Michigan University softball team (1-4 overall, 0-0 Mid-American Conference) heads to Florida for its annual spring trip, March 2-11.
The Chippewas open play at the Florida State Tournament on March 2-3. CMU takes on Florida State (17-3 overall) on March 2 and Northwestern (6-3 overall) and Ball State (1-1 overall) on March 3. CMU then plays single games against Michigan State (0-10 overall) and Temple (3-5 overall) on March 5 and a doubleheader versus Penn State (4-4 overall) on March 6.
Central wraps up the trip at the Speedline Tournament in Tampa on March 9-11. The Chippewas take on Florida A&M and Maryland (5-6 overall) on March 9, Oklahoma State (6-6 overall) and Illinois-Chicago (10-10) on March 10 and Florida International (12-4 overall) on March 11.
HEAD COACH MARGO JONKER--Veteran coach Margo Jonker is in her 22nd season and career record of 731-397-5. Jonker has led CMU to eight MAC titles, nine NCAA regional appearances and a spot in the 1987 College World Series. She was an assistant coach for the USA Softball team in last summer's Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.
JONKER ON GOING TO FLORIDA--"The spring trip will be our second competition of the season. It allows us to see if the items we worked on after the initial Las Vegas tourney have impacted our team positively in competition. After each trip, we evaluate our strengths and weaknesses and attempt to improve on both before our next games."
JONKER ON GETTING OUTSIDE AGAIN--"It is so different practicing on the turf and then going onto the dirt, it is always a challenge to make the needed adjustments. Therefore, it will be great to be able to spend an extended time outside getting used to a `real' field."
STRONG START--Senior Hope Robertshaw (LaCrescenta, Calif.) leads the team with a .429 batting average. She hit 6-for-14 with a double and three RBI at the season-opening tournament at UNLV on Feb. 16-18.
NOTES--Sophomore Michelle Brander (Jenison) is second on the squad with a .286 (4-14) batting average ... Pitcher Wendy Stephens (Mira Loma, Calif./Jr.) leads the pitchers with a 1.43 ERA.
UPCOMING--Central Michigan opens conference play at Marshall on March 23 and Ohio on March 24.
