Published: May 07, 2008 09:45 pm            

COLLEGE SOFTBALL: The Big Purple Machine breaking NU records

Often this spring, perhaps every weekend, Niagara University softball coach Al Dirschberger has stared into the dugout, or examined the box score after a game, and been amazed at what he saw.

Not so much that his Purple Eagles (27-19) have set 16 team or individual records, including most regular season wins, that more than half of his lineup will appear on single-season top 10 lists in next year’s media guide, and that just about every support player as having a career year.

“Our focus has been to attack, one out at a time, one inning at a time, one game at a time,” Dirschberger said this week, as Niagara prepared for the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament, which begins today in Connecticut.

“It’s actually been quite a surprise to me that they’ve been so focused on that, day in and day out. Especially now going into MAACs.”

Generally around this time, teams reflect a bit on their regular season accomplishments, Dirschberger said, then look ahead to the three-game tournament stretch. Dirschberger isn’t worried about the Purple Eagles losing focus on the tourney opener, though.

“This team doesn’t want to talk about anything but the next game,” he said.

And with the host Fairfield Stags up next for Niagara, which is seeded second behind defending champion Canisius, the Purple Eagles don’t want to talk much about the games they’ve already played.

On their way to 27 wins and a high-water mark in the MAAC (13-3), the Purple Eagles boast a .300 batting average, two-hundredths of a point behind the formidable Griffs, have scored an average of 5.3 runs per game, the best in the conference, and have hit a team-record 54 home runs.

Diminutive outfielder Jenna Baker set the single-season record with 13 home runs (so far), and teammates Kristin Sito (10 dingers), Tory Healy (9), Teresa Healy (8) and Felicia Coffey (7) are all in the top 10.

Baker, a sophomore, already ranks second on the all-time home run list, and Sito, a freshman along with Teresa Healy, sits in seventh.

Coffey’s power numbers are balanced against a .404 batting average, 67 hits and 42 runs scored, all team-highs.

Freshman shortstop Maggie McDonald is hitting .350 and is currently on a 24-game hitting streak, which, as you might have guessed, is a Niagara record.

“It’s not at all about records,” said Tory Healy, the lone senior in the everyday lineup and Niagara’s career leader in home runs, RBIs and runs scored. “Coach says individuals get records, but teams win championships. So we just go out and do our job every day.”

Dirschberger said the Purple Eagles have gotten more aggressive at the plate over the last three seasons, and this year’s squad has bought into the hitting techniques taught by assistant coach Jordan Stevens.

“It’s definitely a lot better than when I was a freshman. We’ve gone from barely scoring runs at all to breaking all these records,” said senior pitcher Tiffany McCrory. “It’s helped me relax. Knowing they are going to give you these runs, as a pitcher, you get more confident.”

Softball dogma says find one truly dominating pitcher and build a championship around her.

“What’s nice is we’ve built a complete team that relies on each other,” Dirschberger said. “When it’s all said and done, it will be great to look at that we’ve accomplished and be excited about it. The records are great, but you cannot replace the fun and joy we’ve had on and off the field.

“It’s a special team.”

Contact reporter Jonah Bronstein at bronsteinj@gnnewspaper.com

        

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