The Clarke College softball team can close in on the Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference championship this weekend when they visit defending champ Aurora University. The Crusaders are 17-11 overall and 5-1 in league play.
After playing in the NCAA division three regionals in 2003 and 2004 the Crusaders missed out on the post season a year ago and coach Cara Clark says her team has been motivated to get back there. She says they’ve put in the time and the work to get back to where the team was in the past.
The Crusaders have been scoring more runs this season and Clark says team speed is the major factor. She says the speed has allowed them to steal some bases and get people into scoring position to help the hitters generate some RBI’s.
Clark says she has also been happy with the pitching staff, which includes two seniors. While the Crusaders have the lead in the conference race matchups with Aurora and Rockford mean a lot of work remains. Clarke has a non conference matchup at Elmhurst College on Friday.