2008 Woodie Awards
SOFTBALL: Cardinals travel to Miami for big MAC games
Standings on the line as season approaches league's midway point
Kyle Shaner
With the Mid-American Conference softball season halfway completed after this weekend, the weekend's games at Miami University are big for Ball State University.
The Cardinals (26-20, 4-4 MAC) are traveling to Oxford, Ohio, for a two-game series with the RedHawks (15-17, 6-2 MAC). The first game will start at 2 p.m. Saturday and the finale is at 1 p.m. Sunday. Ball State is not playing two conference opponents this weekend like usual, because an uneven amount of series in league play makes for one single-series weekend for each team.
This weekend is important for the Cardinals, coach Craig Nicholson said.
"It's a big series for a couple of reasons," he said. "Obviously we're playing someone ahead of us in the standings, and we're at .500 about halfway through."
The team's conference standing is important because of positioning for the MAC tournament. Eight of the 12 teams in the conference make the tournament, which determines the league's champion and representative in the NCAA tournament.
At 4-4, Ball State is second in the MAC West and fifth overall in the conference. Nicholson said he is not thrilled about being .500 in the MAC, but the situation could be worse.
"Obviously we'd like to be a little better," he said, "but 4-4 is solid."
"If you finish 11-11, you'll be right in the middle of the conference, probably about sixth, and in the tournament."
The Cardinals have not made the conference tournament since 2002. This is also the 10-year anniversary of the team's first and only MAC championship.
Natalie Bejarano, one of the Cardinals' two catchers, said she thinks conference play has gone well for the team so far this season.
"I think we're doing a good job," she said. "I'm excited for the remainder of the conference season to see how we do."
Bejarano said playing Miami, which is second in the MAC East standings, will be a challenge, but she is confident in her team.
Nicholson said the RedHawks are good in a lot of phases of the game.
The Cardinals (26-20, 4-4 MAC) are traveling to Oxford, Ohio, for a two-game series with the RedHawks (15-17, 6-2 MAC). The first game will start at 2 p.m. Saturday and the finale is at 1 p.m. Sunday. Ball State is not playing two conference opponents this weekend like usual, because an uneven amount of series in league play makes for one single-series weekend for each team.
This weekend is important for the Cardinals, coach Craig Nicholson said.
"It's a big series for a couple of reasons," he said. "Obviously we're playing someone ahead of us in the standings, and we're at .500 about halfway through."
The team's conference standing is important because of positioning for the MAC tournament. Eight of the 12 teams in the conference make the tournament, which determines the league's champion and representative in the NCAA tournament.
At 4-4, Ball State is second in the MAC West and fifth overall in the conference. Nicholson said he is not thrilled about being .500 in the MAC, but the situation could be worse.
"Obviously we'd like to be a little better," he said, "but 4-4 is solid."
"If you finish 11-11, you'll be right in the middle of the conference, probably about sixth, and in the tournament."
The Cardinals have not made the conference tournament since 2002. This is also the 10-year anniversary of the team's first and only MAC championship.
Natalie Bejarano, one of the Cardinals' two catchers, said she thinks conference play has gone well for the team so far this season.
"I think we're doing a good job," she said. "I'm excited for the remainder of the conference season to see how we do."
Bejarano said playing Miami, which is second in the MAC East standings, will be a challenge, but she is confident in her team.
Nicholson said the RedHawks are good in a lot of phases of the game.
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