Post Season Honors & Awards

The 2015 softball season was a bit of a roller coaster ride for us especially with the weather. However, the post season awards came for the Crusader ladies & made us proud.

EU softball placed 6 players on the All-Conference teams. Four players were named first-team selections while two players were highly selected for the 2nd team.

First Team selections went to Kasie Zukow (outfielder from Corona, CA), Katelyn Tollefson (1B-outfielder from Simi Valley, CA), Megan Washam (catcher-utility from Corinth, Texas), and Kiara Carrier (catcher-utility from Bear, DE).  Congratulations to our first-team selections, we are proud!

Second Team honors went to Michaela Tolliver (RH Pitcher from Lee's Summit, MO) and Caitlin Buckalew (infielder-3b from New Castle, DE).  Congrats to Bucky & Mic!

More news came in from the NFCA All-Midwest Region that 4 of our players were selected for the  NFCA Regional Team. Congrats goes out to Kasie Zukow, Kiara Carrier, Megan Washam, and Katelyn Tollefson were all selected to the All-Regional team...say it loud & say it proud Congrats!

All for now...adios till next time!

Coach Breaux
GEAUX Crusaders Softball!

EU Softball End of Season Wrap & Awards

2015 season came to an end on May 1st at the conference tournament. We entered the tournament as number 4 seed playing 5th seed Benedictine. This was a marquee first round matchup in the conference as Benedictine has a nice ball club and was second in the league race all year. Towards the end of the league race, EU went to Benedictine and swept 2 from them to drop them to 4th place then Benedictine dropped another game to slip to 5th place seed. So this was a tough first round matchup especially after sweeping 2 from them a week earlier. After 5 innings, we fell behind 4-2 going into the 6th. In the bottom of the 6th, sophomore catcher Brittany Hoskins slammed a 2-run homer to tie the game at 4-4. In the top of 7, we got 2 quick outs before the wheels came off. With 2 outs, they put 2 runners on base and then lifted a high fly ball to left that our LF misplayed scoring 2 runs to go up 6-4. In the bottom, we mounted a rally but could not manage to push any runs across losing 6-4. This put us in losers bracket for day 2.

In day 2 we came out swinging against Graceland U & went up 8-2. GU fought back making it 8-6 but in the 7th, freshman slugger Kiara Carrier slammed a 3-run homer to make it 11-6...we held GU in the bottom of the 7th for 11-6 win. In the next game, we hit well but could not manage timely hits leaving many on base in a 6-0 loss and end of season.

We finished season 23-15 overall & 11-7 in conference for 4th place finish. Overall, we had a lot of weather adversity this season & seem to never establish any consistency we needed. We did lead the conference in hitting for our team average of .365 & scored a lot of runs overall. The offense was our highlight & we have most of our lineup returning for 2016.

Season awards are always fun to announce & hand out. This year we had some outstanding efforts by all but the most consistent performers came away with these honors:

Most Valuable Player - Kasie Zukow - Junior Outfielder from Corona, California
Defensive Player of the Year - Katie Tollefson - Junior 1B from Simi Valley, California
Offensive Player of the Year - Megan Washam - Sophomore Catcher-Utility from Corinth, Texas
Pitcher of the Year - Michaela Tolliver - Sophomore from Lee's Summit, Missouri
Newcomer of the Year - Caitlin Buckalew - Freshman 3B from New Castle, Delaware
Slugger of the Year - Kiara Carrier - Freshman Catcher-DP from Bear, Delaware
Teammate of the Year - Brittany Hoskins - Sophomore Catcher from Fayetteville, Arkansas

First Team All-Conference Winners
1. Kasie Zukow
2. Katie Tollefson
3. Megan Washam
4. Kiara Carrier

Second Team All-Conference
1. Caitlin Buckalew
2. Michaela Tolliver

All Gold Glove Team
1. Katie Tollefson - 1B

Congratulations to these players for their season achievements, honors, and awards.

Adios till next time!
Coach Jerry Breaux   
   

Winter Hanging Around

When we think spring has arrived, think again, more winter!! Today's games with Avila University postponed due to snow, hail, rain! Go figure! The winter weather started in November and it's still here! So much for Global Warming huh!

Our games with Avila now pushed into Monday March 30. Games will be played under the lights at 5:00 & 7:00 at cooper park complex in Springfield. With the EU campus field not having lights, we were forced to move to Cooper for the evening games. This will be the first games we have played under lights this season. I loved playing at night as a player and still love it as a coach. My players commented the same, how they love playing under lights! That's good to hear!

Come out if you can on Monday! If not, you can listen to the game live by internet through the EU athletics site. It will be broadcast by Ed Beach, he does a great job for EU sports broadcasting games. First game is at 5:00 with second game to follow around 7:00 pm. Listen in if you cannot make the games.

Adios till next time! Geaux Crusaders!

Coach Breaux

Softball Season Update

Weather allowing more consistent game days to happen than before. The EU annual Fillmore tournament was washed out but, we managed to get in a double-header this past weekend on Saturday against Cardinal Stritch University out of Wisconsin. We were able to put together two good games against CSU winning both 4-2 / 5-3. The highlight was consistent play of our defense & pitching supported with a clutch offensive performance for 14 innings. These were two good wins for our team!

Next up was a tri-match game day with EU, Williams Baptist College, and Central Baptist College. Both opponents very competitive squads with CBC getting votes for the top 25 national poll. Williams Baptist was our first game and was very scrappy bunch. Their offense puts the ball in play consistently forcing you to play defense. This turned out to be a slugfest game as neither team could stop the other offense. We traded runs for a while then Williams finally stopped our offense after going up on us 9-8, the final score. We out-hit Williams 15-8 with 3 home runs but they made some defensive plays on us that ended up being the difference. Tough one to lose but we fought well, and we must get more consistent defensive play & pitching.

Game 2 against CBC was one of the most dramatic endings in EU softball history. We came out a little flat early in the game getting down 4-0 early. We kept battling back but could never gain the lead until the end. A game that seemed lost going into the 7th saw an incredible ending. We were down 7-4 in the last frame. As the visiting team in the top of the 7th, CBC got two quick outs on us and it all seemed over as we could not get anything going. Down to our last out, Cassidy Gillihan managed to get on base with a single. Kasie Zukow & Kiara Carrier each followed with a walk to load the bases. Katie Lorenz then doubled scoring 2 runs to cut the lead to 7-6. Megan Washam then followed with a double off the centerfield wall scoring 2 more runs to give EU the lead 8-7. Rebel Robinson then smashed a single to score Washam to make it 9-7 EU. Then, CBC finally got a 3rd out ending the incredible 2 out rally, but not before EU scored 5 runs on 2 outs for the 9-7 lead. In the bottom of the 7th, CBC had last at-bat. EU starter Madison Barnes had a rough start, relieved by Desley Jett early to middle innings, then Madison reentered game and slammed the door to preserve the incredible comeback win. In the bottom of the 7th, Madison got 3 up, 3 down to win 9-7.

This comeback win & rally with 2 outs was the 2nd greatest comeback in EU softball history. The greatest comeback was 2005 season against top ranked Ok City in the bottom of the 7th, where EU scored 5 runs to win 6-5 after being down 5-1. Now the 2nd greatest comeback was against CBC with EU scoring 5 runs again with 2 outs to pull out the W 9-7. The ladies were simply outstanding & what an incredible win for this 2015 bunch!

Next up, we start conference season on Saturday March 21 against Peru State at the EU field. Game time 1:00 followed by game 2 at 3:00. Come out & support the Crusaders! Adios till next time.

Coach Breaux
GEAUX EU Softball     

Season Update

EU Softball team finally got back on the field after a 3 week weather interruption of snow, ice, and cold temps. We played our Evangel Triangle in Bartlesville, Oklahoma since they had playable fields and we didn't. We played 3 games (Lyon College & Grandview University twice). We looked rusty and played rusty. Defense & pitching not working for us right now. Offense is up & down but keeping us in games. We can play better, we will play better. We are already working harder & smarter this week. Two practice sessions what the doctor ordered (6:00 AM & afternoon session). We still trying to find our synergetic 9 players who compliment our lineup. We will find it!

This weekend is our annual David Fillmore Memorial Tournament. Who is David Fillmore you might ask? Our longtime Sports Information Director who passed away in 2008 after a 30 year career as our S.I.D. Dave was so instrumental in helping me get established as the new EU softball coach back in 1993. He was encouraging, uplifting, inspirational when I needed it...so I did not hesitate to name this annual EU softball tournament in his name, in his honor. Sure miss Dave, but NEVER forgotten!

The Fillmore Tournament played at Cooper Park Complex in Springfield. Five teams participating over 2 days (Friday & Saturday) March 13-14. EU softball game times listed below.

Friday March 13
11:00 AM EU plays Northwestern College
3:00 PM EU plays Bellevue University

Saturday March 14
12:00 EU plays USAO (Oklahoma)
2:00   EU plays Cardinal-Stritch University
4:00 Placement Games happen (Championship and Third Place)

Come out and see us, going to be some great softball this weekend!

Coach Breaux
GEAUX Crusaders     

Softball Weather...FINALLY!

Global warming finally arrived! Sun, warm temps, no snow, no ice, time to play softball again! Our March 6-7 classic scheduled for EU campus field has been moved & relocated to Bartlesville, Oklahoma for this Friday & Saturday. It will be played at the Oklahoma Wesleyan University softball complex, located at 1719-1921 East Tuxedo Blvd, Bartlesville, Oklahoma 74006.

The OWU fields are dry, playable, and with lots of sun & 50's temperature. We are excited to play again since our last game February 14. It will feel like starting over again...sure hope our guys still know how to hit, throw, catch....LOL....feels that way, but we are ready to go sure enough!

Our game schedule for this weekend is:
Friday March 6
1:00 EU plays Lyon College
3:00 EU plays Grandview University

Saturday March 7
10:00 AM EU plays Grandview University

After this one game Saturday, the team heads back to campus & Springfield.

The annual EU Fillmore Tournament scheduled for March 13-14 in Springfield at Cooper Park Complex still on schedule. The weather next week looks PERFECT for this tournament & softball. The forecast calling for lots of sun & 60's temp all week into next weekend. About time!!!

Come out and see us play...till next time, adios
Coach Breaux
GEAUX Crusaders! 

March Has Arrived, Where's the Softball Weather?

March finally here, where's the softball weather! We haven't played since February 14th....we haven't even been outdoors with all the messy wintry weather....it's been an Arctic Blast hit, and trust me has not been a blast at all. My field completely snow covered and has been since February 16th or so...right when we were getting a break with melting snow, then boom, February 28th snow storm hit again...4-5 inches back on my field...can't see the dirt or even outfield grass...time for this stuff to LEAVE, go away!

We will TRY to play games this week though probably at the Springfield park (either Killian or Cooper)....the park fields drain, dry, and get ready much quicker than my campus field. So let the melting begin, let the rains come and wash it away, and let the SUN come out and do its thing.

Our schedule for this first week of March should the weather cooperate, is this:

Friday March 6 - we hope to play at the park with 3 other teams joining us (Oklahoma Wesleyan, Grandview, Lyon)...if we can play, we are shooting for game times of 12:00, 2:00, 4:00. that is to be determined if the fields are dry enough to play...if we cannot play 3 games, then we will all play 2 games each, probably at 2:00 & 4:00...stay tuned to the website for more updates by Thursday March 5.

Then on Saturday March 7, it will be 3 teams playing (Evangel, Grandview, Lyon)...again, we are trying to get either the park field ready IF our campus field is not playable...to be determined...those Saturday game times would be: 10:00, 12:00, 2:00.

Stay tuned to the website for more info and up to date game schedule. We are trying hard to play these games if ol' man winter will take a break on us. The sunshine is expected to come out on Friday & Saturday with 50's weather....but it will depend on IF the field conditions from all the snow & ice dries out for us to give us a playable field.

Till next time, keep the faith & keep up with Crusaders Softball!

Coach Breaux
GEAUX CRUSADERS!

February Softball Schedule Update

Our February schedule of games interrupted by ol' man winter. We were able to play 4 games February 13-14 but shortly after, the Arctic Blast hit the Midwest & Southern states. It brought 6 inches of snow, ice, and freezing temps. The snow, ice, temps are lingering and it doesn't appear we will play any more February games. Even our tournament south of us in Fayetteville Arkansas is encountering freezing temps with potential freezing rain. I guess March cannot arrive soon enough! Hopefully that will bring us more spring like weather. We are fortunate to have a great indoor facility to keep up with workouts & great team energy. We are anxious to play again when the weather allows.

During our opening weekend of games February 13-14, the EU offense came out swinging scoring 38 runs in 4 games. Player highlights were freshman Kiara Carrier (Bear, Delaware) with a HR, triple & 2 doubles....sophomore Megan Washam (Corinth, Texas) had 10 RBI's in 4 games also with HR, triple, double and more...sophomore Rebel Robinson (Crowley, Texas) got her first HR of the season and played some outstanding defense at 3B...sophomore pitcher Michaela Tolliver (Lee's Summit, MO) & senior pitcher Julie Blevins (Dallas, Texas) got their first wins of the season in the circle and threw the ball very well.

Two of our player's were selected as Conference pitcher & player of the week...congrats to sophomores Michaela Tolliver & Megan Washam on being named pitcher & player of the opening weekend for their performances.      

Waiting Game

After playing very well in our last double header at St. Gregory's University, we have been hit with winter weather and have been inside the past two weeks.  Due to the weather we have had to canceled 8 games.  The good news is that we will be getting on a plane on the 28th and will be heading to Florida to play in the RussMatt Invitational.  Games will start on March 2nd and we will finish up on the 6th.  We will be playing double headers against #22 Point Park, Cornerstone, Trinity International, and Division II Findlay.  In all we will play 8 games in 5 days.  This is always a good trip for us as it prepares us well for our conference season.  Please be in prayer for safe travel a great weather.

EU Softball - let the season begin! Been a long preseason, team is ready to play! We open this Friday 2-13 at Christian Brothers University. Game times 12:00 & 2:00. Followed by Saturday 2-14 at Lyon College in Batesville, Arkansas. Those game times 12:00 & 2:00.

Gaddis Honored at MO Hall of Fame Banquet

Congrats to Koby Gaddis for being honored at the Missouri Hall of Fame Banquet.  Koby was honored for being a 1st Team NAIA All-American in 2014.  Koby went 13-0 on the mound, was named HAAC pitcher of the year, and led the entire nation in wins.  What a great honor for Koby and our Evangel Baseball Program.  Congrats Koby!

Baseball Signs Another Top Arm

The Evangel Baseball program is excited to announce another signing of an immediate impact player for the 2016 season.  Brad Potts has signed out of Shawnee CC (via Dexter HS) and will be coming into the EU program as a starting pitching and outfield prospect.  Brad will be a great addition on and off the field to our program.  Congratulations Brad!