Temple University Athletics
Owls Return To Postseason, Repsher Garners Top Player Award
5.16.07 | Softball
May 16, 2007
PHILADELPHIA - The Temple softball team's first postseason appearance since 2004 came to an end on day two of the Atlantic 10 Softball Tournament after falling to fifth-seeded Charlotte 8-2. The Owls, seeded fourth, had knocked off Charlotte the day prior, 8-0, before losing to first-seeded and eventual champion UMass, 8-0, at noon on day two.
Prior to arriving in Amherst, Mass. for the postseason tournament, three Owls were honored by the Atlantic 10. Senior 1B Adrienne Repsher was named the conference's Player and co-Student Athlete of the Year, in addition to being selected first team All-Conference and a member of the All-Academic team. Senior SS Jessica Rohn was selected second team All-Conference and freshman Krystle Metzler was named to the All-Rookie team.
Following the conclusion of the tournament, junior outfielder Brittany Burks was named to the All-Championship team.
The Cherry and White completed the regular season with an 18-21 overall record and 9-7 mark in the Atlantic 10. The Owls' longest winning streak of the season, lasting five games from April 7 - 18, included a win over George Washington and a two-game shutout sweep of cross-city rival Saint Joseph's. Temple entered the postseason tournament having won 11 of their final 16 regular season contests.
Repsher, Temple's first conference Player of the Year since former Olympic gold medalist Dionna Harris (1989), headlined a Temple attack that was consistently ranked among the A-10 best in team batting average. The Owls finished the regular season ranked first in the conference with a .306 team batting clip. The team's 45 HR, in a league-low 36 games played, also ranked first.
Repsher concluded her Temple career after producing one of the most successful single-season campaigns in Owls softball history. Her .456 batting average, 13 home runs, 44 runs, .951 slugging % and .578 on-base percentage, for the season, were all school records. On April 5 vs. Fordham, her third inning solo home run was her 14th as an Owl, setting Temple's new all-time career long-ball mark. After four seasons, the left-hander leaves Temple as the all-time leader in HR and total bases (250) while tied for second in 2B (41). She also ranks tied for eighth in hits (147), fourth in R (88), third in RBI (91), third in BA (.324) and second in putouts (1282).
Repsher's success was complimented by the offensive attack hitting behind her in the Owls' line-up. The sophomore tandem of Katie Burdeaux (.329, 7 HR, 24 RBI) and sophomore Courtney Norene (.333, 8 HR, 30 RBI) supplied a feared clean-up and fifth hole punch for second-year head coach Casey Dickson. Burdeaux ranked as high as eighth-nationally in slugging percentage while Norene was once awarded the A-10 Player of the Week honor (2/19).
In the circle, junior Brianna Dairy (7-5, 3.08) and freshman Ashley Smuda (9-11, 3.82) handled the bulk of the pitching duties down the stretch. Dairy led the Owls' pitching staff with five complete game shutouts, while Smuda posted team-bests in appearances (32), games started (16), complete games (6) and innings-pitched (115.1). Her 92 strikeouts rank sixth on Temple's single-season charts.
At Temple's annual Cherry and White Day, held April 21 at the Ambler Campus, the Owls took the opportunity to honor late head coach Rocci Pignoli. Pignoli passed away at the age of 60 on January 1, 2007. During the ceremony, a tree was planted on the hill above and behind the home plate area as a sign of remembering Pignoli's continued growth and spirit. Several members of the Pignoli family, Temple Associate Athletic Director Kristen Foley and three members of the Temple softball team, Repsher and juniors Brittany Burks and Amanda Carver, took the time to share their memories of Pignoli.
In 2008, Temple softball will begin its 34th season of play and the third under head coach Casey Dickson. The program will also celebrate its 1,300th game played.
