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Location: River Falls, WI 54022
Enrollment: 6,000
Chancellor: Don Betz
WIAC faculty representatives: Rik Seefeldt, Barbara Rebhuhn
Athletic director: Rick Bowen (phone: 715/425-3246)
Assistant athletic director: Patti Ford (phone: 715/425-3244)
Head coach: Faye Perkins
(17th season, 330-297-1 career record) 715/425-3966
Assistant coach: Jody Gabriel
National affiliation: National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Div. III
Conference: Wisconsin Intercollegiate
Athletic Conference
Conference members: Eau Claire, La Crosse, Oshkosh, Platteville,
River Falls, Stevens Point, Stout, Superior, Whitewater
Nickname: Falcons
Colors: Red and White
WIAC championships: (3) 1987, 1993, 1994
2005 overall record: 18-23
2005 conference record, finish: 8-8, 6th
2005 letter winners lost: (10) Megan Blakeley (3B), Emily Evans (3B), Jamie Falck (OF), Carolyn Guisinger (1B), Michelle Heuser
(OF), Sonia Madlon (C), Emily Rodgers (OF), Jessamy Schwartz (SS),
Emily Stahl (1B), Leah Vanderploeg (P)
2005 letter winners returning: (7) Ashley Bertrand (P), Ashley James (C), Michelle Kelley (OF), Brittany Rathbun (P) Breamber Syverson (2B), Margo Taylor (C), Amanda Wojnowiak (OF)
Home field: Ramer Field
Trainer: Gary Eloranta, Crystal Lanning 715/425-3130
Sports information director: Jim
Thies 715/425-3846 (e-mail: james.g.thies@uwrf.edu)
Web site: http://www.uwrf.edu/sports/sports0506
Softball web site: http://www.uwrf.edu/sports/sports0506/sb_menu.htm
Sports information fax: 715/425-4486
2006 Falcon Preview
"Small but mighty," is how UW-River Falls softball Coach Faye Perkins describes the 2006 team.
The small part comes in the fact that of the 15 players on this season's roster, only eight are returnees. The team is made up of six freshmen, six sophomores, three juniors and no seniors. "It's kind of scary, but exciting," said Perkins."We are very talented, but lack experience. We have to rely a lot on returnees and on our freshmen to step up for immediate impact."
The mighty comes in with a fine list of returnees.
On the mound are sophomores Ashley Bertrand and Brittany Rathbun, who shared mound time with last year's senior Amanda Vanderploeg. Bertrand led the Falcons with a 2.16 ERA and an 8-9 record. She led the Falcons with 107 inings pitched and 83 strikeouts. She walked 35. Rathbun worked 90 innings and had a 2.57 ERA with a 5-6 record. She had four saves, a school record. She walked 17 and struck out 67. She also received honorable mention to the 2005 All-WIAC team. Rathbun also played in the designated hitter's spot and finished second on the team with a .387 average. Freshman Kelly Quinn bring back up help. "We just have to find the best combination of what works best," said Perkins.
Sophomore Ashley James who caught for the entire season last year will be looked to protect the plate again this year She hit .207. Sophomore Margo Taylor is also in the wings ready to step up when needed.
Junior Breamber Syverson will be the only familiar face in this year's infield as an entire new group is taking shape. Last year Syverson played in all 41 games and will be looked to help out at shortstop if needed. She had a .238 average and stole a team high 13 bases. Freshman Mindy Rudiger will be looked to help in the shortstop position as well. If Syverson is asked to play shortstop, freshman Cassie Peterson will be looked to fill in at second. At first base sophomore Amanda Peters will look to take control with Keri Feller ready for back up. Sophomore Emily Howlett will be looked to hold down the third base position.
Amanda Wojnowiak will be one of the leaders in the outfield. She lost some playing time last year due to a leg injury but is ready for a new season. Last year Wojnowiak earned All-WIAC and NFCA All-Great Lakes Regional first team honors. She played both right and center field and had the team's highest batting average of .420. She led the team with 21 runs scored and had a team high 12 doubles and two triples The 12 doubles is second in a single season in the Falcon records book. She had 16 RBIs and stole nine bases. She had a perfect fielding percentage.
Michelle Kelley is also an experienced junior playing in the outfield position. Freshmen Rachel Mathias and Angie Quance are also ready to play in the outfield.
This season the Falcons won't be playing their regular cluster tournaments, but will play double headers against each conference team. Whether or not Perkins thinks this is a good adjustment remains to be seen. "The cluster tournaments put a lot of pressure on the team, so it'll be interesting to see how the new schedule will go."
This year the team starts the season a few weeks earlier then usual with its first game March 1 against Carleton College. "This is the earliest we've ever played, but it will help provide some stronger focus in our practices," said Perkins.
This year the Falcons are focusing on their might, and not their size. "We are a small, but solid team," said Perkins.
2006 Falcon Schedule
March 1 vs. Carleton College (at Rosemount Dome), 8 p.m.
March 12 vs. Rowan, 8:50 a.m. (Oren Brown Field 1)
March 12 vs. Plattsburg, 10:40 a.m. (Oren Brown Field 1)
March 13 vs. Benedictine, 2:20 p.m. (Oren Brown Field 2)
March 13 vs. Rhode Island, 4:10 p.m. (Oren Brown Field 2)
March 15 vs. Franklin & Marshall, 8:50 a.m. (OCSC Field 2)
March 15 vs. Cortland, 10:40 a.m. (OCSC Field 2)
March 16 vs. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, 2:20 p.m. (OCSC Field 3)
March 16 vs. Macalester, 6 p.m. (OCSC Field 3)
March 17 vs. McDaniel, 9:30 a.m. (St. Cloud HS)
March 17 vs. Otterbein, 11:30 a.m. (St. Cloud HS)
March 24 at Coe College Tournament
vs. Cornell, 2:45 p.m. (Field 2)
vs. Northwestern, 6:15 p.m. (Field 2)
March 25 at Coe College Tournament
vs. William Penn, 10:45 a.m. (Field 2)
vs. Mt. Mercy, 2 p.m.(Field 1)
March 28 Hamline, 3 p.m.
April 1 St. Scholastica, 1 p.m.
April 2 St. Mary's, 1 p.m.
April 5 at North Central, 3 p.m.
April 8 at Oshkosh*, 3 p.m.
April 9 at Whitewater*, Noon
April 14 Eau Claire*, 3 p.m.
April 20 at Stout*, 4 p.m.
April 22 Platteville*, 1 p.m.
April 23 La Crosse*, Noon
April 26 Superior*, 3 p.m.
April 30 at Stevens Point*, 2 p.m.
May 5 at WIAC Tournament (at UW-Stout), TBD
May 6 at WIAC Tournament (at UW-Stout), TBD
May 7-10 NCAA Regionals, TBD
May 13-17 NCAA Championships (Salem, Vir.), TBD
2005 Falcon Results
18-23 overall, 8-8 WIAC
4-4 Home, 3-6 Away, 11-13 Neutral Site
| Date |
Opponent |
W-L |
Score |
Winning-Losing Pitcher |
| March 11 |
St. Scholastica^ |
L |
6-0 |
Vanderploeg, L, 0-1 |
| |
St. Scholastica^ |
L |
8-0 |
Bertrand, L, 0-1 |
| March 20 |
Westminister@ |
L |
2-1 |
Vanderploeg, L, 0-2 |
| |
Fontbonne@ |
L |
4-0 |
Bertrand, L, 0-2 |
| March 21 |
Augsburg@ |
W |
9-1 |
Vanderploeg, W, 1-2 |
| March 23 |
Carthage@ |
L |
3-1 |
Bertrand, L, 0-3 |
| |
Millikin@ |
W |
2-1 |
Vanderploeg, W, 2-2 |
| March 24 |
Eastern Connecticut@ |
W |
4-2 |
Rathbun, W, 1-0 |
| |
Millikin@ |
W |
8-2 |
Bertrand, W, 1-3 |
| March 25 |
Ramapo@ |
L |
3-2 |
Rathbun, L, 1-1 |
| |
Allegheny@ |
W |
8-0 |
Vanderploeg, W, 3-2 |
| March 26 |
Hope@ |
L |
9-3 |
Rathbun, L, 1-2 |
| April 1 |
vs. Case Western Reserve |
W |
3-1 |
Bertrand W, 2-3 |
| |
at Calvin |
L |
6-3 |
Rathbun, L, 1-3 |
| April 2 |
vs. Case Western Reserve |
L |
4-3 |
Vanderploeg, L, 3-3 |
| |
at Hope |
W |
6-3 |
Bertrand, W, 3-3 |
| April 5 |
Eau Claire* |
L |
3-0 |
Vanderploeg, L, 3-4 |
| |
Eau Claire* |
L |
3-0 |
Bertrand, L, 3-4 |
| April 7 |
at St. Mary's |
L |
5-0 |
Vanderploeg, L, 3-5 |
| |
at St. Mary's |
L |
5-4 (9) |
Bertrand, L, 3-5 |
| April 9 |
Elmhurst# |
L |
4-3 |
Bertrand, L, 3-6 |
| |
St. Scholastica# |
L |
4-0 |
Rathbun, L, 1-4 |
| April 10 |
UM-Morris# |
W |
7-0 |
Vanderploeg, W, 4-5 |
| |
Northland# |
W |
3-0 |
Bertrand, W, 4-6 |
| April 13 |
La Crosse* |
L |
5-1 |
Vanderploeg, L, 4-6 |
| |
La Crosse* |
W |
4-1 |
Bertrand, W, 5-6 |
| April 16 |
Oshkosh*$ |
L |
5-1 |
Bertrand, L, 5-7 |
| |
Whitewater*$ |
L |
5-4 |
Vanderploeg, L, 4-7 |
| April 17 |
Platteville*$ |
W |
3-2 |
Bertrand, W, 6-7 |
| |
Stevens Point*$ |
W |
5-4 (10) |
Rathbun, W, 2-4 |
| April 25 |
at Superior* |
W |
5-3 |
Bertrand, W, 7-7 |
| |
at Superior* |
L |
12-4 |
Vanderploeg, L, 4-8 |
| April 27 |
at Stout* |
L |
4-3 |
Bertand, L, 7-8 |
| |
at Stout* |
W |
9-4 |
Rathbun, W, 3-4 |
| April 30 |
Platteville* |
W |
9-3 |
Rathbun, W, 4-4 |
| |
Whitewater* |
W |
2-0 |
Bertrand, W, 8-8 |
| May 1 |
Oshkosh* |
L |
3-2 |
Rathbun, L, 4-5 |
| |
Stevens Point* |
W |
6-2 |
Rathbun, W, 5-5 |
| May 6 |
Stout% |
L |
8-0 |
Bertrand, L, 8-9 |
| May 6 |
La Crosse% |
W |
7-4 |
Vanderploeg, W, 5-8 |
| May 7 |
Stevens Point% |
L |
2-1 |
Rathbun, L, 5-6 |
* WIAC Games
^ at Rosemount Dome
@ at Rebel Spring Games in Orlando, Fla.
# at UW-Eau Claire Tourney
$ WIAC Cluster Tourney at Oshkosh
% WIAC Tournament
2005 Returning Letter Winners
| Name |
Pos |
Ht |
Yr |
B-T |
Hometown/High School |
| Michelle Kelley |
OF |
5-2 |
Jr. |
R-R |
Rochester, MN/Century |
| Margo Taylor |
C |
5-8 |
Jr. |
R-R |
Forest Lake, MN |
| Breamber Syverson |
2B |
5-3 |
Jr. |
L-R |
Prescott, WI |
| Brittany Rathbun |
P |
5-8 |
So. |
R-R |
Rochester, MN/Mayo |
| Ashley James |
C |
5-4 |
So. |
R-R |
Mankato, MN/Loyola |
| Ashley Bertrand |
P |
5-8 |
So. |
R-R |
St. Paul, MN/Como Park |
| Amanda Wojnowiak |
OF |
5-4 |
So. |
R-R |
Big Lake, MN |
Falcon
2005 Statistics
WIAC Softball
Page |
Faye Perkins
Head Coach
Breamber Syverson
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Ashley
Bertrand |
Ashley
James |
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Michelle
Kelley
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Brittany
Rathbun
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Breamber
Syverson
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Margo
Taylor
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