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Lions Match Up With Familiar Foe In Valdosta State

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By BART O'CONNELL

Tribune correspondent

Published: May 7, 2008

Saint Leo first baseman Ally Maddox knows what Valdosta State will be thinking of her team when it takes the field this morning at 11 in the NCAA II South Regional.

It doesn't matter that the Lions beat the Blazers in all four meetings this year, or that Saint Leo advanced to region for the third time in four years. Until the Lions win some postseason games, and make a run at the Division II softball finals, no one will give them any respect.

"We have something to prove," Maddox said. "Valdosta - that's who we wanted to play. ... Last year, we didn't make the tourney, and when we have, Saint Leo has a reputation of going two and out. Even though we've beaten them four times, that means nothing now. We have to prove we can beat them in the playoffs."

That's why Saint Leo's No. 3 seed for the regional, hosted by national No. 1 Barry in Miami Shores through this weekend, was both a blessing and a burden for Coach Christi Wade.

The Lions (35-13) were hoping for one of the top three seeds all season, but facing Valdosta State (48-17) in the opening round, which they outscored 27-12 in the four wins, presents challenges as well.

"I'm very happy with the seed, but playing Valdosta State, it puts a weird spin on it," Wade said. "It's hard to go out there and beat a good team that you've beaten that many times already. I think it eases the players a little bit. That's when I get concerned."

But Maddox, a junior and a definite leader, according to Wade, isn't concerned with a letdown. She's confident based in large part on the emergence of perhaps the best lineup in program history.

Though pitcher Ashley Urbanik and her 25 wins and 230 strikeouts have been bright spots all year for the Lions, most of the veterans are just as encouraged by how well the offense has played, bucking the trend of Saint Leo's mediocre hitting teams of the past. SLU has been led this season by an SSC-best 51 homers - 14 each by Urbanik and Tatiana Casis, tied for the league lead.

The Lions also boast six regular starters hitting above .300: Casis (.381), Amanda Patrick (.345), Maddox (.319), Urbanik (.315), Elysha Agen (.315) and April Slate (.313). All that remains to be seen is if the lineup can sustain that kind of production against postseason pitching.

"Our goal all year has been to attack that first strike, and keep putting the ball in play," Wade said. "We will be facing better pitching, but the key is to stay on the attack."

"It has really come together collectively," Maddox said. "We've had some freshmen step up, and then Tat and Ashley have been hitting the home runs. We have to come out ready to play for the beginning of our new season - go big, or go home."
SAINT LEO SOFTBALL AT A GLANCE

WHAT: NCAA South Regional

WHEN/WHERE: Today-Sunday; Barry University, Miami Shores
SCHEDULE/SEEDINGS: Today - No. 3 Saint Leo (35-13) vs. No. 6 Valdosta State (48-17), 11 a.m.; No. 2 Alabama-Huntsville (40-7) vs.

No. 7 West Florida (39-21), 1:30 p.m.; No. 4 Tampa (31-11) vs. No. 5 Rollins (38-14), 4 p.m.; No. 1 Barry (40-6) vs. No. 8 Albany State (33-20), 6:30. Thursday through Sunday's schedules to be determined.

STATS/WEBCAST: www.saintleolions.com

NEED TO KNOW: The Lions are appearing in the South Regional for the third time in four years, their first since 2006. ... SLU junior Ashley Urbanik (25-8, 1.09 ERA) is today's scheduled starter, and Coach Christi Wade said she will not be on a pitch count, meaning she could see a lot of action and little rest if the Lions make it deep into the tournament. Former River Ridge star Kiki VonHolt (9-5, 2.38 ERA) has pitched regularly in doubleheaders for the Lions and probably will see some spot duty. ... The SLU/VSU winner will face the Alabama-Huntsville/West Florida winner Thursday at 4 p.m.; the loser will face that game's loser Thursday at 11 a.m. ... The tournament winner will advance to the NCAA II softball finals May 14-17 in Houston.

Bart O'Connell can be reached at boconnell@pop.tampatrib.com.

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