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Case returns from injury to lead Thomas More softball team
Thursday, April 26, 2007 9:34 PM EDT
On April 1, against St. Vincent College, Case foul-tipped a ball that ricocheted off of her left eye.
"I didn't break a bone, but I had a hyphema, which meant I was bleeding behind my eye into my iris, and I also had three stitches," said Case of the injury. "It was (pretty scary) at first, not being able to see because of the swelling, but it could've been a lot worse."
Case missed four games, but returned with a bang on April 19 against Bethany College, blasting a home run in her very first at-bat of the game.
With the round-tripper, her first of the season and ninth of her career, Case took sole possession of fourth place on the Thomas More all-time home run list. Her successes this season have shot her up many of the TMC career lists, including runs (84, eighth), hits (137, seventh), doubles (30, third) and runs batted in (84, fourth).
With a . 361 career batting average, Case currently sits at sixth all-time for TMC, if the season ended today. But Case and the rest of the Saints definitely have their eyes set on continuing well into postseason play, and in order to do that, a big matchup looms this Saturday at home on "The Hill" against Westminster.
"It's a really big game since they're tied for first place with us in the conference," said Case. "Winning will ensure a number one seed, and that would mean we would get to host the tournament. Instead of driving five hours to Pennsylvania, they would get to drive to us."
The Saints and Westminster are tied atop the Presidents' Athletic Conference lead with identical 9-1 conference records. The teams will meet in a doubleheader Saturday at 1:00 and 3:15, and TMC will finish up their regular season Sunday on Senior Day against non-conference foe Case Western, another doubleheader, with the same scheduled start times.
After two seasons of back-to-back NCAA Division III Softball Championship berths, the first two ever in Thomas More history, Case and the team are in a great position for a third, with a 23-8 current overall record.
"We need to first of all beat Westminster, and wins against Case Western (Sunday) would give us more regional wins, which are really important for who gets picked to go the NCAA Tournament," said Case. "In the past two years, we've made it and got put out early. We're confident this year, that if we get there, we can definitely win some games."
Case, who was named first-team All-PAC last season and is two-time defending Saints' defensive player of the year, is set to graduate this year with a major in communications and a minor in psychology. She earned four varsity letters for Mason County from 2000-03, and her younger sister Carly is currently the Lady Royals' starting catcher and leading hitter. They are the daughters of David and Dianna Case of Maysville.
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