2003 softball season recap

CU-Colorado Springs made school history this season by becoming the first softball team to ever win a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference playoff game.

Amber Colton threw a complete game two-hitter and Brittni Carlson drove in a run and scored another to lead the Mountain Lions to a 2-1 victory over New Mexico Highlands in the opening round of the RMAC Tournament.

CU-Colorado Springs lost its next game of the tournament to Nebraska-Kearney before being eliminated by Southern Colorado. Although the Mountain Lions fell short of their pre-season goal â€" to win the RMAC tournament, Coach Scott Peterson knows his team will be back.

“We have the youngest team in the tournament,” said Peterson. “I think from here on out we will be expected to get back (to the RMAC tournament).”

Those expectations are more than warranted.

CU-Colorado Springs got off to one of the best starts in school history. They were 13-3 over the seasons first month. The Mountain Lions finished the year 22-26 and 16-18 record in the conference. The 16 conference wins tied the school record. CU-Colorado Springsâ€^TM roster is jam-packed with freshman and sophomores, most of whom put up solid numbers.

Carlson, the freshman from Erie, hit .389 with five home runs and 34 RBI. Carlson also had seven steals and 14 doubles. She was named first-team All-RMAC and Co-Freshman of the Year.

Sophomores Colton and Kara Rainey were named Second-team All-RMAC. Colton fought injuries for most of the year but still managed to post an 8-8 record with a 2.60 ERA. Colton also became the all-time career leader in strikeouts at CU-Colorado Springs. Colton now has 235 Kâ€^TMs over her two years. Rainey hit .298 with ten doubles and 15 RBI. Rainey also stole 10 bags and scored 18 runs.

Jennifer Dykstra received All-RMAC honorable mention honors. Dykstra hit .347 and had a .420 on base percentage. She also drove in 18 runs and had 11 doubles in her first healthy season as the Mountain Lions shortstop. Fellow sophomore Julia Tatone hit .335 and drove in 15.

Katrina Maestas also turned in a quality freshman campaign. Maestas went 10-12 with a 2.77 ERA. She struck out 106 the second highest single season total in season history.

Other key contributors included sophomore Sarah Wodniak, who hit .289 wile playing solid defense in right field; sophomore Charlene Berg, who hit .280 with three home runs and 19 RBI; and junior catcher Lindsey Pitman, who threw out 34.4 percent of would-be base stealers, while stealing nine bases herself and scoring 23 runs.

With all these players and many others key ones expected back, Coach Peterson canâ€^TMt wait until next season.

“We took a huge step as a team getting as far as we did this season,” said Peterson. “Iâ€^TMm really looking forward to what this team will do in the future.”