July 30, 2000

Tiffin softball players go to World Series

By Matt Steiner
Sports Writer

Three years ago the team was formed. It started with seven girls from the Bowling Green area who just couldn't get enough softball with their teams during the week. After finally finding enough players, they had instant success. They went to the USSSA 18 and under World Series in their debut season, winning the whole thing in 1999.

This year, three Tiffin area softballers joined the tournament team sponsored by Bowling Green Orthopedics, helping the squad continue their success. Erin Rau, Randi Whitman, Holly Thom and the rest of the team head to North Carolina this week to compete in Orthopedics' third straight Series.

"We have a group of girls who are very competitive," coach Ken Sander said. "They're very focused when they go on the field and expect to win. But, they have a lot of fun."

Rau, a star pitcher at Old Fort High School, became the first of the Seneca County girls to play on the team. She was recruited last fall by other Orthopedics players who had played against her in high school.

The World Series champs lost two pitchers who turned 18 after winning the title. That left a need for quality pitching. And quality they received.

After making the All-Ohio first team in her sophomore year, Rau repeated the feat in 2000, leading the Midland Athletic League with a 0.61 ERA and 196 strikeouts. As the ace on a team which led the entire league with a 1.05 collective ERA, she was named MAL most valuable player.

The Stockader has posted a 10-2 record since joining Sander's team, including six shutouts.

When more players were needed, Rau pointed Sander in the direction of Whitman and Thom.

Whitman came to the team on the weekend of July 8 for a tournament in Beavercreek when the team's catcher went out with an injury.

"(Randi's) a good catcher," Sander said. "A nice athlete and a good edition to the team. The catcher position is just as important as the pitcher. We needed some consistency back there and she gave us that."

The coach loves her strong arm and her talkative nature behind the plate, which has given the team another on-the-field leader.

"She's like a coach on the field," Old Fort softball coach Ron Rau said, acknowledging the leadership which Whitman brought to his team. "She really knows the game."

Whitman, who graduated from OF in 1999, played more shortstop than catcher for the Stockaders where she was second team All-Ohio after her junior season and two-time first team All-MAL.

Thom, a utility infielder, joined the team at the beginning of the 2000 season. She too has helped bolster the defense.

"I think I can only remember one error she's made," Sander said. "She's got the quickest release of any infielder I've seen."

The energetic player has played third base, shortstop and second base for BG Orthopedics.

"She's the type of player you love to coach," said Steve Adelsperger, Thom's coach at Hopewell-Louden. "She's a hard worker who jokes around a lot and keeps the team relaxed. Holly is a complete player who can play anywhere."

Thom has brought a strong bat to the lineup where she bats fifth or sixth. She hit .357 as a junior for the Chieftains and .455 in her sophomore season. Both years she earned second-team All-MAL honors.

Despite the added offense she has given Orthopedics, Sander said that if his team is lacking, the weakness is at the plate. Pitching and defense have been the strength and the keys to the team's success.

"In fastpitch if you have pitching and defense, you'll stay close to other teams and have a chance to win," he added.

Not only have they stayed close, Orthopedics has won four of the six tournaments they've entered this season, posting a 23-6 overall mark.

The highlights were the World Series qualifiers at the Beavercreek Challenge and the Springfield Thunder tournaments. They won the championship with a 4-1 record at Beavercreek and swept Springfield in five straight games, including a 1-0 complete game shutout by Rau.

Those national qualifiers were a mere formality. The 1999 World Series B-division champs were awarded an automatic bid in 2000, as long as they participated. This year they move into the A-division where they are one of 11 Ohio teams headed to North Carolina. Fifty-one teams out of thousands from around the country will compete this week.

Sander is as surprised as anyone at the instant, national success which these young ladies have experienced. A 13-year veteran fastpitch player himself, he became involved simply "so the girls could have a place to play." The championship team just fell into place.

"The way we put the team together is unlike how most are put together," Sander said referring to the absence of organized tryouts. "(The original seven) just went out and got girls they were playing against and who they thought were good players."

This recruitment method has fostered chemistry and friendship, leading to success.

"I think it has had a major impact," Sander added. "The girls like each other and enjoy playing together. We want to make it a fun atmosphere."

He eluded to the odd pre-game ritual, which his team has become fond of, to illustrate the relaxed attitude of the team.

"They all play hacky sack before every game," he said. "It's become a sort of superstitious thing. The opposing teams don't know what to think."