Herkimer wins first National title in DIII Softball
May 19, 2013
CHAMPIONSHIP HOME - PHOTOS
ROCHESTER, Minn. – Herkimer County Community College (N.Y.) won its first national championship in Division III softball with its 5-2 victory over top-seed Brookdale Community College (N.J.) Saturday on a rain-soaked surface at the McQuillan Softball Complex in Rochester.
In the title game, Herkimer shortstop Tina Karaqui had three hits, including a solo home run along with three runs scored to earn outstanding offensive player and tournament MVP honors. Steph Siriano added a home run and Ashley Sterritt drove in two runs.
In the circle, Toni Secreti earned the win as she went seven full innings, scattering eight hits on the night. She worked through her toughest jam of the tournament when Brookdale loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Due to Friday’s slate of games being cancelled because of rain, Saturday was quite eventful as Brookdale had to win three games to advance through the loser’s bracket to the championship finale. BCC was the top seed but lost in its first round matchup to eighth-seed Dutchess Community College (N.Y.) 4-2.
Herkimer rallied and advanced to the title game with a 6-5 win over Dutchess in the winner’s bracket semifinals, which was played earlier on Saturday. Karaqi had three hits in that game as well and drove in the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Dutchess held a 5-1 lead in the contest before Herkimer surged back with four runs in the sixth.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Kathleen Sherp – Catcher, Brookdale CC (N.J.)
Ashley Sterritt – 3B, Herkimer County CC (N.Y.)
Alyssa DiMaio – SS, Dutchess CC (N.Y.)
Tabby McBride – 2B, Monroe CC (N.Y.)
Samantha Hosey – P, Brookdale (N.J.)
Rebekah Kitchen – OF, Herkimer County CC (N.Y.)
Lindsey White – P, Itasca CC (Minn.)
Cheryl Hicks – DP, Dutchess CC (N.Y.)
Bobbie Boehler – SS, Brookdale CC (N.J.)
Toni Secreti – P, Herkimer County CC (N.Y.)
Abby Canning – P, Dutchess CC (N.Y.)
Stephanie Siriano – OF, Herkimer County CC (N.Y.)
TOURNAMENT MVP
Tina Karaqi – SS, Herkimer County CC (N.Y.)
COACH OF THE TOURNAMENT
PJ Anadio, Herkimer County CC (N.Y.)
OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE PLAYER
Bobbie Boehler – SS, Brookdale CC (N.J.)
OUTSTANDING OFFENSIVE PLAYER
Tina Karaqi – SS, Herkimer County CC (N.Y.)
OUTSTANDING PITCHER
Toni Secreti – P, Herkimer County CC (N.Y.)