News Releases

5-7-08

Five Softball Players have earned All-Region and All-Conference recognition in a vote by the coaches announced yesterday. Selected to the All-Region team were sophomores: Beth Current (Bloomington HS), Jessica Gourdier (Olympia HS), Shelby Parker (Bloomington HS), and Lindsay Watkins (Olympia HS) as well as freshman Taylor Sloat (Kansas HS). Gourdier, Parker, and Sloat were also named First-Team All-Conference while Kelli McMahon (Westville HS) and Carley Kemmer (GCMS HS) were selected to the 2nd Team, and Morgan Hackman (Northridge HS, In.) was Honorable Mention.

Catcher/Designated Player Shelby Parker led the Cobras in hitting with a .441 average (60-136) and a .547 on-base percentage. She finished the season with 3 HR and 32 RBI was a perfect 8-8 in stolen bases. She was also an All-Region Tournament selection. Sloat, the Cobras shortstop, hit .401 on the season with a .663 slugging percentage. She lead the team in hits with 63 and triples with 5 and was second in RBI with 47, home runs 6, and doubles 13. She hit .500 in M-WAC play scoring a team-high 39 runs while driving in 30.

Gourdier, the season and career home run leader at PC, hit .358 this season with 10 home runs and 53 RBI, tops in both categories. She cracked 9 of her home runs against M-WAC opponents. Beth Current, a mainstay in centerfield for PC, hit. 363 with a .530 on base percentage. She led the team in three categories this season: runs (52), doubles (16), and stolen bases (11). Second baseman, Lindsay Watkins is the final position player honored from PC. The Cobra lead-off hitter, batted .328 and had an on-base percentage of .474. She finished in the top five in five different categories.

On the mound, Kemmer emerged as the Cobra ace and was particularly effective in the Region 24 tourney where won three games and was named to the All-Tourney team. The freshman won 10 games on the season and compiled a team low 1.71 ERA. Fellow freshman Morgan Hackman was a perfect 7-0 this season with a 2.18 ERA and opposing hitters hit just .196 against her this season. Rounding out the pitching honors is McMahon who was 7-5 on the year with a 4.07 ERA. She was at her best in M-WAC play going 6-1 with a save and an ERA of just 2.31.

Congratulations to all of these young ladies on another fine season.

5-4-08

The Parkland College Softball team battled their way back to the Region 24 Championship game but fell 2-0 to Heartland ending their string of six straight appearances at the National Tournament. Heartland (34-10) rode the arm of Region 24 MVP Amber May, who tossed a four-hitter while striking out nine. The freshman is the NJCAA D-II leader in both earned run average (0.38) and strikeouts (261).

Parkland 7 Illinois Central 3

After spotting the Cougars a 2-0 lead, PC fought back to tie it with two-runs in the second on and RBI double by Chelsea Rowe and a single by Lindsay Watkins. Jessica Gourdier roped a home run to right center in the 3rd to make it 3-2 and Shelby Parker's long drive over the left field wall gave the Cobras a 7-2 lead after four. That was all the runs Parkland pitcher Carley Kemmer would need as she kept the Cougars off stride as PC ended a three-game losing streak to ICC. Parker led PC with three hits while Watkins and Lacey Poulson each had two.

ICC 200 000 1 3 5 0
PC 022 300 X 7 9 0

Matheny, Hurd (4), and Schnoor
Kemmer and Haney

W-Kemmer L-Matheny

HR-Gourdier (PC) Parker (PC)

Heartland 2 Parkland 0

Sarah Waylock's two-out single in the first gave Amber May all the runs she would need and the Hawks added an unearned run in the fifth as HCC edged PC for the title. Heartland, in their first year having sports teams, held PC to just four hits as the Cobras stranded five runners. PC threatened in the fourth when Kali Haussy got a one-out triple but a ground out and strikeout ended the threat. PC had back to back singles in the fourth but Taylor Sloapt popped out to short center field to end the inning. Taylor Freeman had two of the Cobras four hits as PC ended the season (32-18).

HCC 100 010 0 2 7 0
PC 000 000 0 0 3 1

May and Schmidt
Kemmer and Parker

W-May L-Kemmer

Al-Tournament Team:

Hannah Dow-Heartland
Kaitlyn Dyche-John Wood
Carley Kemmer-Parkland
Amber May-Heartland
Shelby Parker-Parkland
Samantha Rapp-Lincoln College
Jennifer Sardigal-Lewis and Clark
Jessica Schaeffer-Heartland
Sarah Waylock-Heartland
Alex "Punky" Williams-Illinois Central

Cassie Schmidt-Heartland
The Parkland Softball team won twice on Saturday after a disappointing loss to the start today and will need three more wins to make their seventh straight trip to Nationals. Below is a recap of the Cobras first four games.

5-3-08

Friday: Parkland 13 Shawnee 4

PC used an eight run second inning to set the tone and beat the Saints. Lindsay Watkins Chelsea Rowe, and Jessica Gourdier each drove in two runs in the inning with Gourdier's being a two-run homer. SCC climbed to within four at 8-4 but PC scored five times over the final three innings to end the game by the 8-run rule. Kali Haussy had three hits, scored twice, and drove in a pair of runs while Watkins drove in four to pace a 13-hit attack. Carley Kemmer (7-5) earned the win allowing no runs on one hit in three innings of relief.

Saturday: ICC 7 Parkland 5

ICC grabbed an early 4-0 lead but PC bounced back to tie it at four helped by three Cougar errors. ICC's Stephanie Toepke's line drive single off the glove of Jessica Gourdier made it 6-4 and PC cut it to one on a Gourdier single. ICC added and insurance run in the top of the 7th and PC threatened in their half of the inning but the the ICC hurler was able to get the final two hitters on ground balls to end the game. Lacey Poulson had 3 hits for PC.

Parkland 6 John Wood 4

Jessica Gourdier and Kali Haussy each had two hits, scored twice, and drove in a run as PC eliminated JWCC 6-4. The Cobras built a 6-0 lead before the Trailblazers rallied to score three in the sixth to cut the lead to 6-3. JWCC scored one more in the 7th and had the tying run at the plate but Carley Kemmer retired the final two hitters to end the game. Kemmer pulled off a unique accomplishment in that she earned the win and the save in the game. The freshman worked the first four innings and after being relieved came back into the contest to work the final inning and two-thirds to pick up the save.

PC 10 Lewis and Clark 1

Kemmer continued where she left off, going the distance allowing just one run and striking out six in the victory. Again, PC scored early as they plated four runs in the first and three more in the fourth. Kali Haussy came up big again going 3-3 with 3 RBI and 3 runs. She was joined by Shelby Parker (2-3 3 RBI), Taylor Sloat (2-4 2 RBI 2 runs), and Lacey Pouslon (1-1 2 RBI) as the hitting stars for the Cobras.

PC (31-17) will get back in action at 10:00 on Sunday vs ICC with the winner taking on Heartland at 12:00 for the title.

4-26-08

PC scored nine runs in the first two innings as the Cobra Softball team pounded Spoon River 12-1 Friday afternoon in Canton. The second game was canceled due to rain. PC started quicky as the first two runners reached base and scored on a Taylor Sloat double and Jessica Gourdier chased home Sloat with an RBI single. Two outs later, Chelsea Rowe smacked a two-run single to make it 5-0. The Cobras scored four more times in the second using three hits, two walks, and a Mudcat error to score their runs. Sloat paced the attack going 3-4 with 3 3 runs scored and 3 RBI. Gourdier also drove in three runs while Beth Current had two hits and scored three times. Winning pitcher Morgan Hackman improved to (7-0) allowing one run on three hits and striking out four. PC (28-16 19-4) will be off on Saturday before playing their final games of the regular season when they travel to John Wood for a noon doubleheader.

In a game that featured 30 runs, 40 hits, and 11 home runs, it was probably justice that the Parkland and Kankakee baseball teams battled to a wind-blown 10-inning 15-15 tie, called due to darkness. Parkland's Kevin Crane hit a solo home run with two outs and two strikes in the top of the 9th inning and Cobra reliever Brooks Martin struck out the side with the bases loaded in the bottom half to send the game to extra innings. Crane was 5-6 on the game with 2 home runs, 4 runs scored, and 3 runs batted in. Lance Hanmer went 3-6 with a home run and a pair of runs driven in while Nathan Weglarz also had three hits and Michael Bradburn, Dan Kuhne, and Martin all finished with 2.

PC (32-11-1) head to East Peoria for a 1:00 DH. PC starts the day a half game behind leading with just four days left in the regular season.

4-24-08

Jordan Huston hit a 3-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the 11th inning to give Shawnee a 4-1 win in the opener. Parkland broke on top early in game two with a three-run first to beat the Saints 7-3 in the finale.

Jessica Gourdier and Shelby Parker got the offense started with RBI singles in the first bunched around a SCC error. Shawnee cut it to 3-2 in the 3rd but PC answered back scoring three times in their half of the 4th. Lindsay Watkins drove in one of those runs and added an RBI single in the 6th as well. Parker went 3-4 in the game while Gourdier and Beth Current each collected two hits. Morgan Hackman earned the win allowing no earned runs in four innings of work while Kelli McMahon picked up the save working a strong final three innings.

In the opening game loss, the two teams were scoreless thru regulation but PC broke on top with a run in the top of the 8th. Chelsea Rowe walked with two outs, moved to second on a single by Carley Kemmer, and scored on an RBI single by Lindsay Watkins. Shawnee loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the inning and scored the tying run on a single to left. With the bases still jammed, Cobra reliever Laura Wright struck out the next two hitters to send the game to the 9th. PC stranded runners in scoring position in each of their next three at bats setting up the game winning heroics off the bat of Hutson.

With the split PC is now (25-16 16-4) ahead of two games at Danville Area CC this afternoon.

4-21-08

The Parkland College Softball team went (3-1) from Friday to Sunday, taking a pair of games versus Robert Morris and earning a hard fought split with Kankakee. The Cobras were rained out of their Saturday doubleheader and on Tuesday will start a string of 12 games in six days.

Friday:

Kankakee 3 Parkland 1 8 inn.

Parkland took a 1-0 lead to the 7th but a two-out two-strike single to left center tied the game at 1. PC threatened in the bottom of the inning, but failed to push across the winning run. KCC scored twice in the top of the eighth and PC again put two runners on base in the bottom half but could not get the key to tie the contest. Shelby Parker had 2 hits and drove in the lone Cobra run.

Parkland 5 Kankakee 3

Laura Wright (6-6) tossed a three hitter and allowed just three runs (all on home runs). PC took control early scoring twice in the first on RBI singles by Jessica Goudier and Parker. Beth Current tripled in the second to drive in Lindsay Watkins to make it 3-1. PC scored two more times in the 5th as Lacey Poulson and Chelsea Rowe each had RBI singles. KCC scored twice late but could get no closer that the final two-run margin. PC shortstop Taylor Sloat suffered a broken nose in the contest after a foul ball off her own bat came back to hit her at the top of the nose. Her replacement, Taylor Freeman went 4-4 in the game and scored a run while Gourdier had 3 hits and Kali Haussy and Lindsay Watkins each had two.

Sunday:

Parkland 8 Robert Morris 4 10 innings

The two teams were tied going to the 10th before PC exploded for seven runs on five hits and an error. Beth Current drove in the go ahead run with a double and Shelby Parkler followed with an RBI double as well. Chelsea Rowe rounded out the scoring with a two-run double of her own. Robert Morris did score twice in the bottom of the inning but winning pitcher Kelli McMahon got the final two hitters to pop out to end the game. McMahon (6-6) went the distance allowing just two earned runs in 10 innings. Rowe drove in 3 runs, Beth Current had 4 hits and scored twice and Shelby Parker added three hits.

Parkland 7 Robert Morris 0

Morgan Hackman (5-0) went the distance with a complete game four-hit shutout of the Eagles. Shelby Parker's two-run double in the 3rd scored the only runs the Cobras would need. PC added two more in the fifth and scored three times in their final at bat to secure the win. Parker continued her hot hitting going 3-4 with 3 RBI, Current had 3 hits and 3 runs scored, and Taylor Sloat returned to action with 2 hits and 2 runs scored.

With the wins PC is now (22-15 10-3) and will play their final regular season home games on Tuesday at 2:00 when they host Springfield College. PC will play their final 10 games on the road before starting Region 24 play May 2-4 at the Roundhouse Complex in Mattoon.

4-17-08

Parkland hitters pounded out 29 hits and scored 26 runs while Cobra pitchers allowed Danville Area just three hits as PC swept the Jaguars 9-1 and 17-0. Taylor Sloat and Shelby Parker were the hitting stars of the day with Parker going 5-6 with 2 home runs, 5 RBI, and 4 runs scored while Sloat was 5-5 with 2 home runs, 4 RBI, and crossed the plate four times.

In the opener, DACC scored their lone run of the day in the first before PC answered back with four runs on four straight hits with two outs in the first. Shelby Parker made it 6-1 in the 3rd on a two-run home run and PC put the game away with three more runs in the fourth. In addition to the fine hitting by Sloat and Parker, Jessica Gourdier went 2-3 with a 2-run homer and 3 RBI. Kelli McMahon picked up the win allowing just one run on two hits and striking out six.

In the finale, PC scored early and often as they cruised to the 4 1/2 inning game shortened by the run rule. Taylor Sloat got things going with a two run homer and Shelby Parkler followed three batters later with a 2 run blast of her own. Beth Current added a solo home run in the third, it was the sixth home run of the day for the Cobra offense. Parkland put the game away with a nine run outburst in the third. Kelsey Poole and Kelli McMahon had the big hits in the inning driving in a pair of runs each. Lacey Poulson was a perfect 3-3 in the game and was joined by Poole, Sloat, and Parker with multiple hits in the game. Morgan Hackman gave up just one hit, a single to left just under the glove of the Cobra shortstop and struck out three to improve to (4-0) on the season.

Parkland improves to (19-14 13-3) on the season and will step out of conference on Friday to host nationally ranked Kankakee CC (23-5) starting at 2:30. The two teams split a pair of games earlier this season.

4-15-08

The PC Softball team ran their winning streak to seven games on Tuesday as they swept two games from Lincoln Land, winning by the scores of 4-3 and 9-6. The wins improved the Cobras to (17-12 11-3) ahead of a crucial Region 24 doubleheader at Illinois Central on Wednesday.

PC got off to a quick start in game one as Lindsay Watkins and Beth Current singled and Taylor Sloat hit a home run to make it 3-0 after just three hitters. Lincoln Land hit two solo home runs to cut it to 3-2 before PC added an insurance run in the fourth on an RBI by Current. LLCC started the 7th with another solo shot but could not score again. Kelli McMahon earned the win while Carley Kemmer picked up the save. Watkins, Shelby Parker, and Erin Galloway each had two hits in the contest.

In game two PC built an early 6-0 lead scoring two runs in the first, three in the second, and a single run in the third. Jessica Gourdier had a two run single in the first, and Watkins added and RBI single in the second to put PC ahead. LLCC rallied to tie the game at 6 chasing Morgan Hackman from the hill in the fifth. Taylor Sloat's two out two-run double broke the tie and Kali Haussy hit a solo home run in the sixth to put the Cobras up to stay. Laura Wright earned her second win in as many days, working 2.1 innings in relief allowing no runs on two hits while striking out three. Chelsie Rowe had three hits and scored twice, Lindsay Watkins scored three runs, Beth Current added two hits and two runs.

3-30-08

The Parkland Softball team opened the home portion of the 2008 season in fine fashion sweeping a pair of doubleheaders from Lewis and Clark on Saturday 15-4 and 1-0 and 12-4 and 9-0 against John Wood on Sunday.

On Saturday, the Cobra bats came to life scoring 15 runs on 18 hits. Leading the way for PC was Lindsay Watkins who hit her first career home run and was 3-4 with 4 RBI in the game. Also collecting three hits was Kali Haussy who had a double and 2 RBI. Jessica Gourdier drove in three runs while Taylor Sloat, Shelby Parker, and Erin Galloway each had 2 hits and drove in two runs. Carley Kemmer (4-1) went th distance to earn the win.

Kelli McMahon (1-3) came up big in game 2 limiting L&C to just 2 hits while striking out 11 and walking none. PC scored their lone run of the game with an RBI single by Watkins scoring Parker.

On Sunday, PC scored five times in the first inning and held on to beat John Wood 12-4. Five different players collected two hits for the Cobras led by Jessica Gourdier who scored twice and drove in three runs. Erin Galloway and Taylor Sloat both had 2 RBI while Beth Current had two hits and scored three times and Lindsay Watkins had two hits. Morgan Hackman (2-0) earned the win with relief help from Carley Kemmer.

In the Sunday finale, PC and JWCC battled to a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth before the Cobras struck for 9 runs on 7 consecutive hits. Jessica Gourdier delivered the big blow in the inning stroking a three-run home run to right center to make 4-0. Beth Current and Taylor Sloat each had two hits, two runs, and two RBI in the inning. Laura Wright (1-5) picked up her first win of the year with a four-hit shutout striking out four.

PC (8-9 5-1) will have a busy week ahead with road contest on Tuesday at Shawnee and Thursday at Kankakee sandwiched around a Wednesday home double header against Heartland.

3-26-08

The Parkland Softball team returned to action after an 11 day lay-off and split a double header with conference foe Lincoln Land winning game one 16-2 and losing a heartbreaker 5-2.

PC scored in every inning of game one with Jessica Gourdier getting things started with a three-run homer in the first. Erin Galloway collected her first homer of the season in the second to help PC cruise to the win. Lindsay Watkins was 3-3, while Taylor Sloat, Lacey Poulson, and Shelby Parker all had two hits for the Cobras. Carley Kemmer (3-1) had another strong outing on the mound limiting LLCC to just 6 hits while walking none and striking out three.

PC lost in the finale when Lincoln Land hit a two-out walk-off three run home run in the bottom of the seventh off losing pitcher Laura Wright (0-5). PC had trailed 2-0 going to the 6th before Gourdier drove in a run with an RBI single and Pouslon tied the contest with a double to right center. PC threatened again in the top of the 7th getting their first two runners on base but failed to chase the runners home.

The split leaves Parkland at (4-9 1-1) while Lincoln Land stands at (9-4 3-1). Today's scheduled home opener vs Spoon River has been canceled due to Spoon River having just eight healthy players. The Cobras will travel to Kankakee on Thursday before hosting Lewis & Clark and John Wood over the weekend.

3-10-08

PC's softball team found the going tough at the Lead-Off Classic in Panama City Beach, Florida. The Cobras lost all five games they played by a total of six runs in their season opening tournament. PC opened play with a 1-0 loss to Florida CC-Jacksonville. FCC-J scored the only run of the game with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Laura Wright was the tough luck loser. PC scored five times in the bottom of the seventh but fell to Gulf Coast CC 7-6. Beth Current had two hits and Lindsay Watkins drove in a pair in defeat.

Nationally ranked Chattanoga State shut out PC 2-0 in game 3 limiting the Cobras to just four hits. Carley Kemmer suffered the loss despite giving up no earned runs and just five hits. Frustrations continued with two heartbreaking losses in the Cobras next two games. PC fell to Aiken Tech of South Carolina 11-10 on a three-run homer run in the top of the seventh by Hillary Stringer. PC gave up five unearned runs and trailed 8-3 before rallying to for a 10-8 lead going to the 9th. Erin Galoway hit a 2 run home run while Lindsay Watkins and Jessie Gourdier each drove in a pair of runs. In the final game of the tourney, PC fell to CCBC-Catonsville 4-3 in 8 innings. PC led 3-0 going to the 6th but 5 walks in the inning allowed for 3 runs to score. PC plays Pensacola JC on Tuesday.

2-12-08

Four members of the Parkland College Baseball and Softball teams have been named Pre-Season NJCAA D-II All-Americans by the NJCAA. Second baseman Lindsay Watkins and center fielder Beth Current were named in Softball while pitcher Brooks Martin and outfielder Caleb King were named in Baseball.

Watkins (Olympia HS) led the Cobras in hitting last season with a .479 average and a .610 on-base percentage. She was second in hits (78), doubles (16), triples (7), and third in runs (51). Current (Bloomington HS) hit .370 with 5 HR's and 48 RBI as a freshman. She also had 5 doubles, 5 triples, and was a perfect 12-12 in stolen bases.

Martin (Streator HS) compiled an 8-1 record and a 2.38 ERA last season leading the Cobras in starts (12), strikeouts (56), and complete games (5). King (Mahomet-Seymour HS) hit .370 as the Cobras lead-off hitter with a .470 on-base percentage. Caleb also had 4 HR and 44 RBI and scored a team-high 65 runs. He also had 15 doubles, 25 walks, and 7 stolen bases.

The #2 ranked Softball team is scheduled to open play on Sunday March 2nd at John A Logan while the #10 Baseball team hopes to get underway Friday February 29 in Enid, Oklahoma against Northern Oklahoma and Redlands CC.

Full teams are listed at www.njcaa.org

2-2-08

Both the Parkland Softball and Baseball teams find themselves ranked in the Pre-Season NJCAA polls released on Friday. The Cobra Softball team, who has advanced to the Softball National Tourney for six straight years, is ranked #2 behind defending National Champions Phoenix College. PC, who finished 45-17 and in 6th place at Nationals, opens their season on March 2 at John A Logan College. PC will compete in the prestigious Lead-Off Classic in Panama City in early March where they will face at least two nationally ranked D-1 foes. Later in the season they will play #5 Kankakee in a home and away series.

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