Entering the year with a lot of promise and just as much intrigue, the 2012 edition of the Clan softball team is off to a fantastic start. The team, at the time of press, is rolling along with an 8–1 record and a perfect 4–0 mark in the GNAC. They’ve outscored opponents 61–35 and are at, or near the top of almost every statistical category. Still, none of those figures could be classified as the story of the season. That honour would belong to head coach Mike Renney, who earned his 500th career collegiate victory last week.
The big win came in a two-game sweep of Western Washington University last week at home on Beedie Field. In that sweep, the Clan rolled over the WWU Wolves 11–1 before besting them 7–5 in the second half of the doubleheader. Those two wins have helped the Clan move right into top spot in the GNAC.
Buoyed by solid pitching from former walk-on wonder Cara Lukawesky and strong hitting through the lineup, the Clan mercied the Wolves and ended the first game in just five innings, giving Renney 499 wins and a chance to earn the milestone in the second match.
The second match, as the score would indicate, was much more competitive. The Clan hopped out to a 5–1 lead, but sophomore pitcher Kelsie Hawkins got herself into some hot water when she loaded the bases in the sixth inning. With the potential go-ahead run at the plate, Renney made a decision to bring Lukawesky back in. The Clan’s lead quickly disappeared, but Lukawesky at least got them out of the inning tied at five apiece. It would be Brittany Ribeiro who would play hero, as she cranked a two-run home run in the top of the seventh to give the Clan the lead, more than enough room for Lukawesky to work with to seal the game.
“It’s big to beat Western Washington,” said Renney of the two victories. “They were one of the top teams in the GNAC last year and . . . they were still ranked ahead of us in the preseason.”
But it was his coaching decision to put Lukawesky into the second game that arguably saved the game and earned him his impressive 500th win. It’s those types of tough decisions which more often than not end up being the right ones,that put Renney in the position to reach his incredible milestone. He’s had 499 others before it, but this one,he’ll savour.
“They all add up pretty quick, it was good to get the monkey off the back early in the season,” said Renney. “I’ll probably remember that one for awhile. The athletes played well today and I’m happy for them.
“They deserved to win,” he added. But if anyone deserved the win, it was the man in the dugout, cheering them on.
