CAC SCHOOL SIZE

Wesley second smallest
Conference schools
vary greatly in size

Following up on a discussion among Wolverine fans at a recent game, listed below are the student populations for the colleges and universities of the Capital Athletic Conference's (CAC's) softball teams. These figures are culled from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), which may be based on numbers gathered a year or more past.

  Chris. Newport and SVU are new 

  to the CAC this year. SVU will be 

  NCAA qualified next season.

There are stark differences. According to NCES, the largest institution is Salisbury with 7,969 undergraduates juxtaposed to the smallest at Southern Virginia with its relatively tiny 730 student base. Most schools fall in the range of 4,500 – 5,200 undergrads, while Penn State-Harrisburg has 3,426. Wesley supports its teams with just 1,386 undergrads.

Here are the CAC schools in order of overall student population sizes...

1. Salisbury University
Salisbury, Maryland
4-year, Public
8,657 student (7,969 undergraduate)

      2. York College
      York, Pennsylvania
      4-year, Private not-for-profit
      5,439 students (5,182 undergraduate)

3. Frostburg State University
Frostburg, Maryland
4-year, Public
5,421 students (4,631 undergraduate)

4. Christopher Newport University
Newport News, Virginia
4-year, Public
5,186 students (5,046 undergraduate)

5. University of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg, Virginia
4-year, Public
5,093 students (4,515 undergraduate)

6. Penn State- Harrisburg
Middletown, Pennsylvania
4-year, Public
4,376 students (3,426 undergraduate)

7. Wesley College
120 N State St, Dover, Delaware 19901-3875
4-year, Private not-for-profit
1,436 students (1,386 undergraduate)

8. Southern Virginia University
Buena Vista, Virginia
4-year, Private not-for-profit
730 students (all undergraduate)

WHITNEY DIBB

Impressive hitting
Whitney Dibb delivers
a perfect performance

It's said they grow fastpitch players in Southern California because warm weather and sunny skies allow practice and play all year round.

Well, if practice makes perfect, freshman #21 C/3B Whitney Dibb (La Mesa, CA) proved it this afternoon. She was perfection. 

Whitney Dibb

The Wesley Wolverines were up against the nation's #1 ranked D3 softball team, Salisbury Sea Gulls, with their dazzling pitching staff's 0.83 ERA at duPont Field, Dover, DE.

Wolverine bats were quiet until Whitney stepped to the plate in the second game of a doubleheader. That's when the Salisbury Sea Gull's no-hit perfection ended. Whitney lifted a single to left field in her first at bat. Then she sent an absolute rocket into right field in her second plate appearance. She was a perfect 2-for-2 for the day.

Eventually, freshman #18 C/3B Nina Marcano (Middletown, DE), sophomore #6 MI Breanna Hartman (Red Bank, NJ), and junior #11 OF Brook Creighton (Rock Hall, MD) added singles, too. Nina also stole a base. But it was Whitney that started it all and never failed against incredible pitching of the USA's top ranked team.

CLICK HERE for the official doubleheader recap, which features a photo of Whitney's swing.

Whitney Dibb

 

SALISBURY #1

Play Wesley today
Salisbury is #1
nationally again

The Salisbury Sea Gulls play our Wesley Wolverines today at 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM at Reynolds DuPont Field, Dover, DE.

The Gulls are now ranked #1 in the nation. CLICK HERE for the full story.

SALISBURY PREVIEW

Wednesday doubleheader
Wolverines face #2 ranked
Salisbury Univ. Sea Gulls

The Wesley Wolverines will welcome the Salisbury Sea Gulls (25-1 overall; 5-1 conference) to Dover on Wednesday, April 9, as the team's undoubtedly most challenging opponent this year. 

The Sea Gulls are ranked #2 among all D3 colleges and universities across the nation, according to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). Salisbury briefly held the USA's #1 spot before losing their only game this year 2-0 to the Christopher Newport Captains, who the NFCA ranks #14 nationally. (The Wolverines also will take on the Captains this coming Saturday, April 12.)

Among Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) members' overall play, the Sea Gulls best all teams in runs scored, doubles, home runs, RBI, batting average, on base percentage, slugging percentage, fielding percentage (they average 0.5 errors per game), and notably a pitching ERA at a miniscule .089 runs. CLICK HERE for the complete stats.

 
The Wolverines are tops in the league in overall triples and second in overall on-base percentage, while third in overall hits, doubles, runs scored, batting average and slugging.

Here is the game day information... 

Wednesday
April 9

Salisbury Sea Gulls  
vs. Wesley Wolverines

DOUBLEHEADER 
  3:00 PM & 5:00 PM

Reynolds DuPont field
500 Mary Street,
Dover, DE

Weather forecast:
Partly sunny, and as almost 
always: windy! Hi 62 degrees.

PREVIEW: The Sea Gulls come well armed with #9 pitcher Rachel Johnson's 14-0 record and an incredible 0.35 ERA. #21 pitcher Kathryn Larson has an equally impressive 11-1 record and 1.68 ERA.

#15 utility Paige Knussman leads the team and the CAC in batting average (.608) and on base percentage (.648). #12 infielder Kim Dorsey is #1 on the team and across the CAC in runs (43), home runs (11), RBI (43), and slugging (1.115).

Despite the stats, games against the Salisbury can be close. The Sea Gulls defeated the CAC York College Spartans just last Saturday by a narrow 6-4 score. 

LINDSAY HONOR ROLE

Second appearance
Lindsay Siok on CAC Honor Role
for pitching and hitting performance

Lindsay Siok

The Wesley Wolverine 's freshman #12 P/MI Lindsay Siok (Milford, DE) has been named to the Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) Weekly Honor Role for the week of April 7, 2014. This is the second time this season that she has receive the honor role recognition.

The CAC Weekly Report noted “Lindsay Siok struck out six in a win over the Nittany Lions and helped herself with two hits … Siok also had four RBIs in the twinbill at FSU.”

Lindsay ranks sixth in the conference in wins with seven victories, seventh in strikeouts with 48 Ks, and eighth in ERA with a 2.50 average. 

MORE MARCANO PHOTOS

More Marcano photos
Wolverines on the road,
playing outside Philadelphia

Jose Marcano found himself and his camera anchored, like her daughter freshman #18 catcher Nina Marcano (Middletown, DE), around the backstop at the Wesley Wolverines versus Immaculata Mighty Macs games. His usual center field position for game photography was blocked by high, solid blue wall. That's not accommodating for snapping pictures or belting home runs, though both Nina and sophomore #32 3B Kayla Fromal (Middletown, DE) solved the latter challenge, smacking a softball over that dead center wall that day.

Here are 60 of Jose's photos in the slideshow below that were shot at the Immaculata, PA, games...

MARCANO PHOTOS

More Marcano photos
Wolverines softball in
Blue Ridge Mountains

High mountain air didn't slow down the shutter clicks of Jose Marcano's camera when the Wesley Wolverines swept a doubleheader from the Southern Virginia Knights in beautiful Buena Vista, Virginia, a small town famed as the home of Charlie Manuel (Phillies skipper 2005-12)!

Jose's photos cover the team's arrival, pregame workouts, and the doubleheader action, whose final innings ended up being played under the lights.

The slideshow below are 50 of Jose's photos...

MARCANO PHOTOS

View from center field
Marcano photographs of
Mary Washington games

Jose Marcano, father of freshman #18 C/3B Nina Marcano (Middletown, DE), literally takes more than a thousand photos per Wesley Wolverine softball game, many shot in a burst mode (i.e., photos captured in quick succession). He often positions himself with his camera behind the center field fence.

So far, he has provided this blog his images from the Mary Washington, Southern Virginia and Immaculata games. His Myrtle Beach tournament pictures were posted here a few weeks ago.

The slideshow below are 50 of Jose Marcano's photos from the Mary Washington contest. These photos have been cropped and just slightly enhanced in Photoshop. In the days ahead, more of his photos from the other games will be shared.  

PLAYING HARD

Playing hard
Always winners...
if not always by the score

Win some, lose some, the Wesley Wolverines are always exciting. CLICK HERE for today's, Sunday's, April 6's, official game recap against the York College Spartans.

A few shots from the games...

PENN STATE GAMES

Split doubleheader
Wolverines win
first conference game

The Wesley Wolverines started the day with their first Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) win in two years. However, momentum and consistency did not carry over to the second contest with the Penn State Harrisburg Lions.

CLICK HERE for the official recap of the games.
 

There were many bright moments as recorded in the photos posted here...
 

Sophomore #8 OF Steph Caracozza (Melbourne Beach, Fla.) ON LEFT stepped up with 4-for-7 at the plate, drew a walk, and crossed home plate 4 times.

Freshman #12 P/MI Lindsay Siok (Milford, DE) ON RIGHT hit 2-for-4 with a run.

 
Lindsay also pitched a win in the first game, while fanning 6 Lions.

Freshman #18 C/3B Nina Marcano (Middletown, DE) ON RIGHT slammed a triple with an RBI, a walk, and 2 runs scored.

 
Sophomore #32 C/3B Kayla Fromal (Middletown, DE) ON LEFT swung 2-for-5, including a walk, a stolen base, and a double.

Sophomore #25 1B Samantha Mahoski (Schnectady, NY) ON RIGHT delivered a 2-for-3 day. 

 
Sophomore #22 C/UT Morgan Seymour (Smyrna, DE) ON RIGHT and senior #16 3B Ashly Bendorovich (Levittown, PA) ON LEFT drove in 2 RBI each. Morgan picked up 2 walks, as well.

Junior #11 OF Brook Creighton (Rock Hall, MD) ON LEFT and freshman #99 OF Olivia DeGraba (Germantown, MD) ON RIGHT each contributed with singles. Brook added a walk, too.

WEEKEND CAC GAMES

Conference battle
Wolverines host four
CAC games on weekend

It is all Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) games this weekend at DuPont Field, Dover, DE.

The Wesley Wolverines take on the Penn State Harrisburg Lions (5-9 overall) for a Saturday, April 5, doubleheader and then 2 games again on Sunday, April 6, with the York College Spartans (8-16 overall).

Interestingly, all three teams have not won a conference game this season. ► Penn State is 0-2 in CAC play, losing two games to Christopher Newport. ► York College is 0-4 amongst conference competitors, losing two doubleheaders, one to Mary Washington and another to Christopher Newport. ► Our Wesley Wolverines, of course, also are 0-4 in CAC match-ups with losses to Mary Washington and Frostburg State. (The Wolverines did pick up two wins against Southern Virginia, but that university will not be NCAA qualifying CAC members until next season.)

York College plays the Salisbury Sea Gulls on Saturday before arriving in Dover on Sunday.

SATURDAY
April 5

Penn State
Harrisburg Lions  
vs Wesley Wolverines

DOUBLEHEADER
1:00 PM & 3:00 PM 

DuPont Field
500 Mary Street, Dover, DE

PREVIEW: Penn State's sophomore #16 catcher Rieley Loch brings a .409 batting average with 3 home runs and a .682 slugging percentage. Junior #17 pitcher/ utility Gabrielle Wolfe has a 3-4 record as a pitcher with a 3.32 ERA, while she also has 3 home runs and nine doubles with team best slugging at .760.

SUNDAY
April 6

York College Spartans
vs Wesley Wolverines

DOUBLEHEADER
12:00 NOON & 2:00 PM

DuPont Field
500 Mary Street , Dover, DE

PREVIEW: York College's junior #2 first base/ LHP Sara Thacker is 1-5 in the circle with a 3.03 ERA. She also leads the staff with a .519 OBP. Freshman #12 outfielder Mackenzie Ewell leads the team with a .392 batting average. Freshman #1 pitcher Jennifer Taff has hurled the majority of innings for a 6-10 record and 3.81 ERA. She lost a tough one to Franklin Marshall in Thursday evening's second game. She threw 8 innings to lose 1-0 on an unearned run! Freshman #4 first base Carleigh Ruleman has belted three home runs to be tops on the team with 14 RBI.

FROSTBURG GAMES

Lindsay Siok

Two losses
Frostburg:

Wait 'til next year

Don't know what to say about Wednesday's Wesley Wolverine doubleheader losses in Frostburg, MD...

CLICK HERE for the official “heartbreak” recap, which reports it best. 

CLICK HERE for the game one box score. 

Sarah Saunders

CLICK HERE for the game two box score.

Highlights: Sophomore #2 P/OF Sarah Saunders (Wayne, NJ) had two doubles to score both times behind nicely done sacrifices (three total on the day!) from senior #16 3B Ashly Bendorovich (Levittown, PA). 

Freshman #12 P/MI Lindsay Siok (Milford, DE) was 3-for-6 with 4 RBI. 

Freshman #18 C/3B Nina Marcano (Middletown, DE) was 2-for-6 with a run scored.

Below are photos from a few more productive moments yesterday...

Pictured above: Junior #11 OF Brook Creighton (Rock Hall, MD) and freshman #18 C/3B Nina Marcano (Middletown, DE)

Pictured above: Freshman #9 P/OF Lily Engel (Dover, DE) and freshman #12 P/MI Lindsay Siok (Milford, DE)

Pictured above: Sophomore #2 P/OF Sarah Saunders (Wayne, NJ) and sophomore #8 OF Steph Caracozza (Melbourne Beach, Fla.)

Pictured above: Sophomore #22 C/UT Morgan Seymour (Smyrna, DE) and freshman #42 P/1B Devin Mackay (Bangor, PA)

Pictured above: Freshman #21 C/3B Whitney Dibb (La Mesa, CA) and freshman #18 C/3B Nina Marcano (Middletown, DE)

Pictured above: Sophomore #32 C/3B Kayla Fromal (Middletown, DE) and freshman #12 P/MI Lindsay Siok (Milford, DE)

IMMACULATA GAMES

Doubleheader split
Wolverines hit two
towering home runs

The Wesley Wolverines split a doubleheader yesterday, Tuesday, April 1, against the Immaculata Mighty Macs at the Immaculata sports complex, Malvern, PA.

Sarah Saunders

Despite the single loss, the Wolverines always kept the game close, closing a 4-0 deficit of unearned runs with two home runs for 4 RBI in the fifth. Both games were played extremely well. 

Unsung often in recaps and photos are great defensive plays. There were several sure hands in this twin bill, most notably the superb defense of sophomore #2 P/OF Sarah Saunders (Wayne, NJ) in left field.

CLICK HERE for a recap of both games. 

CLICK HERE for the box score of game one. 

CLICK HERE for the box score of the game two shutout.

Below are highlights of the two games. Apologies to anyone overlooked, because there were many contributors on the day.

Pictured above: Freshman #18 C/3B Nina Marcano (Middletown, DE) blasted her team-leading third home run deep to dead center and then belted a triple for 2 RBI and 3 runs. ► Freshman #12 P/MI Lindsay Siok (Milford, DE) added 2 singles for 1 RBI and 1 run. 

Pictured above: Sophomore #32 C/3B Kayla Fromal (Middletown, DE) singled, walked, and knocked a home run over the 220 fence for 2 RBI and 2 runs. ► Sophomore #25 1B Samantha Mahoski (Schnectady, NY) connected with a double and a single for 1 RBI and 1 run.

Pictured above: Junior #11 OF Brook Creighton (Rock Hall, MD) delivered 2 singles and a double for 2 RBI and 1 run. ► Freshman #21 C/3B Whitney Dibb (La Mesa, CA) slammed 2 singles – one off the center field wall – for 1 RBI and 1 run.

Pictured above: Freshman #9 P/OF Lily Engel (Dover, DE) and freshman #12 P/MI Lindsay Siok (Milford, DE) held the Mighty Macs to just 2 earned runs and 2 walks over 14 innings, while striking out six.

ASHLY BENDOROVICH

Top RBI producer
CAC recognizes
Ashly Bendorovich

Ashly Bendorovich

Wesley Wolverines senior #16 3B Ashly Bendorovich (Levittown, PA) has been named to the Capital Athletic Conference's (CAC's) Weekly Honor Roll for the week of March 31, 2014. 

Ashly, CAC noted, drove in eight runs in two games last week while going 6-for-9.

On the season, Ashly leads the team with 19 RBI. She has a .381 batting average with a .429 OBP and .452 SLG.

FROSTBURG

Schedule change
Thursday's Frostburg games
moved back a day to WEDNESDAY

Now
WEDNESDAY 
April 2

Frostburg Bobcats
vs Wesley Wolverines

DOUBLEHEADER
3:00 PM & 5:00 PM

Live stats...
PRESTOSPORTS

Bobcat Field
near Midlothian Rd
& University Dr, Frostburg, MD

PREVIEW: This will be the Frostburg State Bobcats (6-5) first conference games of the 2014 season. The Bobcats so far have played seven of their games at a tourney under the tall palm trees of sunny Clermont, FL, outside Orlando. Freshman pitcher/ infielder #16 Hannah Tavik (Glen Burnie, Md) leads the team with 14 hits, .452 average, .514 OBP, and a .548 SLG. She also is 4-3 from the circle with a 2.90 ERA. Junior #5 Bailey Ellsworth (Cumberland, Md) has 12 hits and a 3.24 average. 

Frostburg split yesterday's, Tuesday's, April 1's, home opener. Frostburg carried a 2-0 lead into the top of the seventh inning before giving up four runs for the loss. In game two, sophomore pitcher/ outfielder #9 Mary Ann Moore (Lanham, Md.) tossed all 7.0 innings and allowed just two earned runs on four hits.