On the softball diamond, junior outfielder Julie Gawronski (Dunkirk, NY/Dunkirk) was named the Liberty League Performer of the Week for April 4, while her teammate, junior Jackie Coffey (Boston, MA/Boston Latin) received the league's Co-Pitcher of the Week.
The women's lacrosse team also received a pair of awards. Kathy Dolezal (Clearwater, PA/Williston Northampton) is the Liberty League Offensive Performer of the Week, and Erin Lawson (Flourtown, PA/Springside) received the Rookie of the Week award.
Julie Gawronski helped lead Union (11-3) to back-to-back sweeps at New Paltz and at Mt. St. Mary. All she did was hit .692 for the week (nine for 13). Gawronski was 2 for 4 with two RBIs in a 6-1 win at New Paltz in the first contest. She had seven hits in eight trips to the plate in the doubleheader at Mt. St. Mary, and also had four RBIs in the first game. On the season, Gawronski is hitting at a team-high .500 clip with 22 hits in 44 at bats. She also leads the team with 16 RBIs and two homers, and has a slugging percentage that would make Major Leaguers proud, an incredible .795 mark.
“Julie is one of the best hitters to play in Division III,” commented Union softball coach Peter Brown. “She is also a great base runner and a terrific outfielder.”
Jackie Coffey continues her monumental roll for the Dutchwomen with her second straight Liberty League weekly award. This week she shares the honor with the University of Rochester's Jen Moshier. Coffey pitched her second no-hitter of the season, and had two solid performances. In a 2-0 win at New Paltz, she pitched a six-inning no-hitter, allowing one walk while striking out three. In a 1-0 triumph at Mt. St. Mary the next day, Coffey gave up just two hits in seven innings and walked one with four K's. On the week, the junior was 2-0 with a perfect 0.00 ERA, allowing a total of two hits, two walks and striking out seven in 13 innings of work. A microscope might come in handy to find her ERA for the season (1.01), as she has allowed just five runners to cross home plate in 44 2/3 innings this spring. Union is 11-3 entering a Tuesday twinbill at Russell Sage.
“Jackie is throwing as well as anyone we have ever had here,” said Brown. “She is very consistent every outing.”
The women's lacrosse team faced a tough schedule last week with Liberty League games at St. Lawrence and Clarkson, but came away with a pair of impressive road victories to even the overall slate to 3-3 and improve to 2-1 in the Liberty League. Kathy Dolezal was all over the net in three games on the week, including the home opener on March 29 against Middlebury. The senior had a goal and five shots against the defending NCAA Division III champions. In the 16-11 win at St. Lawrence Friday, Dolezal scored seven times, and you might say that she was fairly accurate with her shots. All 12 of her shots were on net, and she also found the time to scoop up three ground balls. Saturday, she put six shots on and two hit twine in an 18-4 league win at Clarkson. Dolezal has 42 points and 15 goals and an 86% shooting percentage.
“This past weekend Kathy was able to regain her confidence as an offensive threat,” stated Union women's lacrosse coach Lacey French. “She was able to put away a few goals early in the St. Lawrence game, keeping us in it. With Kathy stepping up, the rest of the team fell into place as well.”
Another budding freshman, from Flourtown, Pennsylvania, is Erin Lawson. The newcomer at attack took this week's rookie honor while performing like a steady and experienced veteran. Lawson combined for nine points including eight goals in the two road wins. She had 11 shots on goal for a .786 percentage and had four grounders while causing two turnovers. She scored five goals in the win at St. Lawrence and added three tallies in the victory at Clarkson. Lawson has 14 goals and 23 points, which stand third on the team in both categories, and has converted on 83% of her shots. The Dutchwomen have league home dates Friday (vs. Rochester) and Saturday (vs. William Smith).
“Erin Lawson is an exceptional freshman with great stick skills. At St. Lawrence, she was able to capitalize when she had opportunities,” said French. “She makes great decisions as a freshman, when she should take the ball to net and when she should pull the ball out to settle the offense. It is great to have a first year player who is not afraid to take chances.”
In other Union sports action this week, the men's tennis team is home for a pair of matches against Skidmore Wednesday and Hartwick Thursday, both at 4 p.m. The Dutchmen are 2-1 entering the week. Crew opens the home season Saturday against Hamilton at 12 p.m. Men's lacrosse is at Skidmore Saturday while baseball is at Oneonta Wednesday and Brandeis Thursday before hosting New Paltz for a twinbill on Sunday at 12 p.m. Men's and women's track and field will open the spring season at the Williams Invitational on Saturday.