Sports
North Central College Update: Spring Sports in Full Swing
A round-up on what is happening with the college's softball, baseball and lacrosse teams.
’s softball team is off to a fast start this spring, compiling an 10-4 record after returning from a spring break trip to Arizona and sweeping a doubleheader from Beloit Thursday.
Leading the way has been Laura Whitfield at the plate and Brianna Nelson in the pitching circle. For their efforts, they were named the CCIW Softball Players of the Week.
Whitfield hit a scalding .765 last week, including a 2-for-4 effort in an 8-7 win over 2008 Division III national champion Wisconsin-Eau Claire. She also set a new program record by belting her 14th career home run.
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All told, Whitfield was 13-for-17 with 16 RBIs on the week.
Nelson won three games last week, two coming in relief. Nelson followed that up by throwing a no-hitter in a 9-0 win over Beloit. It was the 15th no-hitter in program history.
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The duo joins Vlasta Mangia in winning CCIW honors. She was named hitter of the week for the week of March 22.
The Cardinals saw their fast start to the season halted in Saturday’s home opener, however. Aurora swept the doubleheader.
* The baseball team saw its four-game winning streak halted by Aurora Tuesday, 7-6.
The Cardinals stand at 8-5 on the young season.
Against Aurora, graduate Nate Arenson drew the start on the mound, lasting 4 2/3 innings and earning a no decision. Naperville native Matt Abraham started the scoring in the loss with an RBI single in the top of the first.
NCC took a 6-4 lead in the top of the eighth before the Spartans rallied for the win in the bottom of the eighth.
North Central took two of three from North Park over the past three days to open up CCIW play.
* North Central’s fledgling women’s lacrosse team suffered a 20-2 loss to Adrian in Midwest Women’s Lacrosse Conference play last week.
The team’s leading scorer, Danielle Fiala, scored both goals for North Central. She leads the team with 15 goals.
The Cardinals (3-3 overall, 2-1 MWLC) got back into action Sunday with a dominating 20-3 win over Adrian. Caroline Gully scored five goals to pace the Cardinals.
* Heading into the spring season, North Central is ranked No. 15 in Division III in the Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup all-sport standings, which was released Thursday by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics.
The Cardinals received 100 points in the standings for capturing the Division III National Championship in men’s indoor track and field last month. They have 363.5 points, which is 15th nationally and first among CCIW schools.
