1997 Miracle Yearbook

TheCedarvilleCollege women's softball team had a challenging 1997 season.Their head coach did notcomein until January and they played in cold, adverse weather conditions throughout the season. Although faced with these obstacles, the team's head coach David Gaffner, Assistant Director for the Aca- demic Assistance Center, described his players as being very competitive. Their competitivespiritshowedthroughin their winning of a double-header against Rio Grande. Several highlights and awards marked the 1997 season.Gaffner named senior third-baseman Erika Miller as the team's MostValuable Player. Millerled the team in batting averages with a.441 average. Seniors Melissa Sprankle(out- fielder), Michelle Dick (outfielder) and Jennifer Cassidy (first-baseman), made major contributions to the team as well. Bringing It Home Women's Softball Sprankle and Cassidy,along with junior Julie Schaefer were awarded All-Ameri- can Scholar-Athlete honors. Sprankle was an NAIA and NCCAA All-Ameri- can Scholar-Athlete for two years run- ning and was a four-year letter winner. She wasalso named a Mid-Ohio Confer- ence Scholar-Athlete. Cassidy was rec- ognized by the NCCAA for her second straight year, and was a four-year letter winner.Schaefer was named to the elite squad. Among Cedarville statistics, Sprankle is second on Cedarville's all- time listforgames played,with a total of 147;Cassidyranksfourth with 130games. Gaffner was careful to stress that not only was the team concerned about their athletic abilities but about spiritual growth as well.The team held devotions and were"Prayer Partners."Each week, the women would pair up with adifferent partner. They would meet together throughoutthe weekto pray."Wetried to go beyond just softball and make this more than a one-dimensional program," Gaffner said. Though this season was a bit rough, Gaffner feels that the team has a brightfuture."Overall,Ithink we have a good group coming back,there are a lot of people trying out in the fall, and we have a new pitcher coming in," he said. Sophomore pitcher/outfielder Lara Gyurick,freshman infielderBeckySum- mers,sophomoreoutfielderNoellaFisher, sophomore pitcher/second-baseman Bonnie Schaefer, freshman pitcher/out- Scott Huck row 1 (14):Lana Schwinn,Michelle Dick,Andrea Butz,Lara Gyurik,Christine Olbrich,Maggie Winkels,Noella Fisher,Bonnie Shaefer,Erika Miller. row 2: Student Trainer Gretchen Taylor, Maureen Strang,Becky Summers,Michele Vanlier,Jennifer Cassidy,Theresa Olson,Julie Shaefer, Melissa Spranlde,Student Manager Annie Miller,Head Coach Dave Gaffner. 230 adizties