Berkshire Eagle: "MCLA hits its way to NCAA's"

"MCLA hits its way to NCAA's"
By Akeem Glaspie, Berkshire Eagle

New Offensive approach leads Trailblazers to D-III tourney for first time in 20 years

NORTH ADAMS >> As the MCLA softball team prepares to take on Williams College today at 5 p.m. at Cole Field in the regional round of the NCAA Division III tournament, the Trailblazers point to many reasons for their first tournament berth since 1995.

The Trailblazers have embraced the new offensive approach by first-year coach Jamie Trudeau, and have fully bought into her training methods. One new method has been an increased focus on physical training, specifically endurance. That endurance was necessary for the Trailblazers to reach the postseason.

All-MASCAC pitcher Rachel Quackenbush pitched 15 innings of six-hit softball, helping MCLA beat Bridgewater State in the first round of the MASCAC tournament last Friday. In the semifinals, Quackenbush added another 6 1/3 innings against Worcester State in relief of All-MASCAC utility player Amanda Meczywor. Meczywor and Quackenbush blasted two-run home runs during the 10-inning game as well.

The Trailblazers clinched their NCAA tournament berth with a 6-0 win over Salem State. Quackenbush was the winning pitcher, going the distance while striking out 10.

"When you go extra innings you have to build endurance and keep concentration," Quackenbush said. "Going into the tournament, all these teams are going to be good. They're all going to be champions of their conference, but you have to go in with the confidence and endurance to beat them."

Quackenbush finished the regular season with 10 wins and a 1.36 ERA. At the plate, she batted .298 with 22 RBI and four home runs. Meczywor, a Hoosac Valley graduate, finished second on the team in batting with a .319 average, along with 14 RBI and two home runs. The duo, along with the Trailblazers' leading hitter Michaela DiNicola (.333 average, .400 OBP), have embraced the team motto of being "an offensive wrecking ball."

The aggressive approach seems to be working, as MCLA raised its batting average 68 points from last season to .274 in 2015. The Trailblazers have also driven in 44 more runs than last year.

"Seeing a new coaching style and seeing a new perspective on things," Meczywor said of the major difference from last year to this year. "We've become more of an offensive wrecking ball and I really like that. The amount of home runs we've hit and extra base hits has been amazing, We've really been focusing as a team on building our offense and helping each other."

"We came up with the term because we wanted to make sure we brought offense," Trudeau said. "I knew we had pitching, but the biggest piece we wanted to add to that was creating an offense that helped them out. I'd rather win a game 15-14 than lose 1-0."

This season, MCLA more than doubled its number of doubles from 25 to 52, and tripled its number of triples from two to six. The Trailblazers also hit 10 home runs after hitting none last season. The ability to generate extra-base hits, along with Quackenbush on the mound, has the Trailblazers feeling confident about their match-up with the Ephs.

"I'm pumped up because we'll have a lot of our fans and students going [to the game]," Meczywor said.

Contact Akeem Glaspie at 413-496-6252.