Raptor of the Week: Autumn Millett

Senior right fielder Autumn Millett ended her stellar four-year Rutgers-Camden softball career by hitting .500 (4-for-8) at the NCAA Fayetteville Regional May 10-11. She finished with Rutgers-Camden career records for games (187), at bats (549), hits (194), runs (151), total bases (345), RBIs (146), home runs (36) and walks (82). She set single-season records in 2007 for hits (65), RBIs (50), home runs (13) and total bases (117) while leading the team in batting (.464), slugging (.836) and on-base percentage (.525). She also earned a berth on the Louisville Slugger/NFCA East Region First Team.

SOFTBALL (31-15/13-5 NJAC)

May

NCAA Fayetteville (NC) Regional

Thurs. 10 Game 1: #1 Methodist University 1, # 8 LaGrange College 0
Game 2: #5 Emory 5, #4 Salisbury 4 (9 innings)
Game 3: # 6 Christopher Newport 10, #3 Rutgers-Camden 3
Game 4: #7 Lynchburg 12, #2 Marietta 1

Fri. 11 Game 5: #4 Salisbury 2, #8 LaGrange 0
Game 6: #2 Marietta 3, #3 Rutgers-Camden 2 (8 innings)
Game 7: #5 Emory 2, #1 Methodist 1
Game 8: #7 Lynchburg 6, #6 Christopher Newport 3

Sat. 12 Game 9: #2 Marietta 2, #1 Methodist 1
Game 10: #4 Salisbury 6, #6 Christopher Newport 1
Game 11: #5 Emory (30-6) vs. #7 Lynchburg (35-11) 2 p.m.
Game 12: #2 Marietta (34-11) vs. #4 Salisbury (38-8) 4 p.m.

Sun. 13 Game 13: Winner Game 12 vs. Loser Game 1 12 p.m.
Game 14: Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 13 2 p.m.

Mon. 14 Game 15: (if necessary) Same teams as Game 14 10 a.m.

After nine straight wins helped carry Rutgers-Camden to its third New Jersey Athletic Conference softball championship in four years, the Lady Raptors’ season ended with a pair of losses at the NCAA Regionals in Fayetteville, North Carolina May 10-11.

Rutgers-Camden, seeded third out of eight teams, dropped its NCAA opener, 10-3, against No. 6 Christopher Newport. The next day the Raptors were eliminated in an eight-inning battle against No. 2 Marietta, 3-2.

In the final game, the freshman pinch-hitter Maggie Daubenmire worked a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the eighth inning to force home the winning run as the second-seeded Pioneers eliminated third-seeded Rutgers University-Camden, 3-2, May 11. Rutgers-Camden closed its season at 31-15.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Pioneers’ sophomore second baseman Nikki Driscoll lined a leadoff single up the middle and was sacrificed to second by sophomore third baseman Christina DeMoss. Senior catcher Jesse Hutchison coaxed a walk off of Lady Raptor senior hurler Megan Farrell (Medford, NJ/Bishop Eustace Prep) and the Pioneers loaded the bases on a bloop single to center by sophomore designated player Erin Faulkner. Daubenmire followed with her game-winning walk in the 1:55 contest which was played in 90 degree heat.

Farrell and Marietta senior hurler Kristen Quintana both hurled complete games, with Quintana scattering seven hits and one walk over eight innings, while allowing two earned runs. She struck out nine to raise her record to 22-8. Farrell worked 7.1 innings, allowing 11 hits, three earned runs and four walks. She struck out five to end her senior season at 13-7.

Both teams scored in the second inning, with the visiting Raptors plating a run following a leadoff single by Farrell. She scored when freshman third baseman Steph Skroski (Stratford, NJ/Sterling) doubled down the left field line.

Marietta bounced back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame. DeMoss ripped a one-out double and pinch-runner Courtney Reid scored one out later on a double by Faulkner. Faulkner scored when junior right fielder Brandy Jacob reached for an 0-2 pitch and poked an opposite-field double down the right field line for an RBI double.

Rutgers-Camden tied the game in the sixth after junior designated player Amber Parker (Pennsauken, NJ/Pennsauken) dropped down a perfect bunt for a leadoff single. Freshman Kate Braun (Audubon, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) ran for Parker and scored from first on a double to left by Farrell.

For the game, Farrell and senior catcher Mo Baney (Deptford, NJ/Deptford) each ripped two hits, with Baney collecting a pair of doubles.

Marietta received a 3-for-3 game from senior shortstop Jenny Carroll, while Faulkner went 3-for-4. Jacob added a pair of hits.

A day earlier, in the Raptors’ tournament opener, Christopher Newport exploded for eight runs on six hits in the top of the sixth inning, overcoming a one-run deficit, and went on to defeat Rutgers-Camden, 10-3.

The Lady Captains sent 13 batters to the plate in the sixth inning, which started with an infield single by freshman first baseman Kristin Nickloy and ended on a single from freshman left fielder Jamie Jansen, which scored one run and saw a second runner thrown out at the plate.

The biggest hit of the frame was a two-run single by Christopher Newport junior catcher Margit Severin.

Severin and Nickloy each went 3-for-3 to pace the Lady Captains’ 14-hit attack against a pair of Lady Raptors pitchers. Freshman designated player Lauren Plevich and freshman shortstop Mary Kennedy each had two hits apiece for Christopher Newport.

The Lady Captains scored a run in the top of the first inning on three hits, including a ground single past second base by freshman designated player Lauren Plevich. The hit by Plevich plated Kennedy, who had reached on a leadoff bunt, stolen second and advanced on a ground out.

Rutgers-Camden bounced back in the bottom of the third, plating two runs to grab a 2-1 lead. Senior third baseman Alaina Giles (Willingboro, NJ/Holy Cross) sparked the frame with a leadoff walk. Sophomore center fielder Marissa Van Cleef (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) and senior right fielder Autumn Millett (Richwood, NJ/Clearview Regional) followed with singles, with Millett’s hit scoring Giles. Farrell plated Van Cleef with a single.

The Lady Captains tied the game in the fourth, sparked by back-to-back singles from Nickloy and junior right fielder Becky Bond. After a sacrifice advanced the runners, the tying run scored on a ground out by freshman left fielder Jamie Jansen.

Rutgers-Camden regained the lead at 3-2 when Baney delivered a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning, extending her career program mark to six sacrifice flies. She delivered Giles, who had walked to open the inning.

While completing their fourth straight trip to the NCAA tournament, the Lady Raptors added numerous milestones.

Head Coach Carl Taylor closed his 12th season at Rutgers-Camden with a 249-130-2 career record, including a 13-6 mark in the four NCAA tournaments.

Giles finished her career with a program-record 250 assists, one more than the old mark of 249 by Michelle Schlichtig (2004-06).

Baney finished her career with program records of 1,370 putouts and six sacrifice flies. She also finished with 186 career games, second only to Millett’s 187.

Junior first baseman Kathleen Dreitlein (Berkeley Heights, NJ/Governor Livingston), had five putouts in the final game to break Baney’s single-season putout mark of 398 set last year. Dreitlein, who entered the game tied with Baney’s record, hiked the mark to 403. She also finished her junior year with 1,007 career putouts, becoming only the second player in program history with over 1,000 putouts, behind record-holder Baney. With a pair of double plays, Dreitlein extended her season and career double play records to 10 and 19, respectively.

Sophomore center fielder Marissa Van Cleef (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) finished her season with 99 career hits, while senior second baseman Kim Zlupko (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) set a single-season program record this year with 99 assists.

Millett completed perhaps the greatest offensive season in program history, hitting .464 with an .836 slugging percentage, a .525 on-base percentage, 13 doubles, 39 runs and 17 walks. She set single-season records with her 65 hits, 13 home runs, 50 RBIs and 117 total bases. She finished her brilliant career with club records for games (187), at bats (549), hits (194), runs (151), total bases (345), RBIs (146), home runs (36) and walks (82).

WOMEN’S CREW

Dad Vail Regatta (Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, PA)

Women's Varsity Pair

Heat 5 (May 11)

1. Fairfield, 8:49.04; 2. Pitt, 9:02.5; 3. Washington University, 9:10.69; 4. Rutgers-Camden, 9:17.54.

(Stroke - Cynthia Burt; Bow - Laura Williams)

Women's Varsity Heavyweight Four

Heat 7 (May 11)

1. Iona, 7:54.55; 2. Rutgers-Camden, 8:14.09; 3. Hofstra, 8:47.91; 4. Wentworth, 9:00.51.

Semifinals (May 12)

1. Lafayette, 7:11.27; 2. Jacksonville, 7:13.59; 3. Duquesne, 7:23.88; 4. NW St. LA, 7:31.53; 5. U. Charleston, 7:47.9; 6. Rutgers-Camden, 7:57.68.

(Stroke-Kathleen Malony; 3-Regina Williams; 2-Rebecca Lodge; bow-Traci Arnold; cox-Michelle Sanchirico)

Men's Varsity Heavyweight Four

Heat 4 (May 11)

1. Boston College, 6:53.115; 2. Pitt, 7:04.36; 3. Chicago, 7:11.86; 4. Catholic, 7:15.76; 5. Rutgers-Camden, 7:18.24; 6. University of Florida, 7:47.47.

(Stroke-Lou Gallagher; 3-Lance Carsillo; 2-Sean Kendall; bow-Efran Cazales; cox-B.J. Ochal)

The Rutgers University-Camden Women’s Varsity Heavyweight Four boat made a little program history in the most prestigious collegiate regatta in the country.

The Lady Raptors’ Heavyweight Four qualified for the Dad Vail Regatta semifinals for the first time in Rutgers-Camden history when it finished second in its heat May 11. The Raptors posted a time of 8:14.09 to finish behind Iona (7:54.55) in their four-boat heat. The top two boats in each heat advanced to the May 12 semifinals.

In the semifinals, the Raptors finished sixth in their race in a time of 7:57.68. That semifinal race was won by Lafayette in a time of 7:11.27.

Members of the Raptors’ Varsity Four boat were freshman stroke seat Kathleen Malony (Haddonfield, NJ/Haddonfield Memorial), sophomore 3-seat Regina Williams (Cherry Hill, NJ/home schooled), junior 2-seat Rebecca Lodge (Clarksboro, NJ/Kingsway Regional), junior bow Traci Arnold (Pitman, NJ/Pitman), and junior coxswain Michelle Sanchirico (Mt. Laurel, NJ/Bishop Eustace Prep).

Rutgers-Camden also competed in the Women’s Varsity Pair, finishing fourth in its heat in a time of 9:17.54. Senior Cynthia Burt (West Deptford, NJ/West Deptford) was in the stroke seat, while senior Laura Williams (Cherry Hill, NJ/home schooled) was in the bow.

The Raptors also competed in the Men’s Varsity Heavyweight Four with their club team. Rutgers-Camden finished fifth in its heat in a time of 7:18.24. Members of that Scarlet Raptors team included senior stroke Lou Gallagher (Florence, NJ/Holy Cross), junior 3-seat Lance Carsillo (Pennsauken, NJ/Pennsauken), senior 2-seat Sean Kendall (Haddon Township, NJ/Haddon Township), sophomore bow Efran Cazales (Bridgeton, NJ/Bridgeton) and senior cox B.J. Ochal (Cherry Hill, NJ/Camden Catholic).

OUTDOOR TRACK

May
17-18 ECAC Championships (at Oneonta State University, New York)

Junior Mike Fox (Hainesport, NJ/Rancocas Valley Regional) and sophomore Travis Stewart (Runnemede, NJ/Triton Regional), sophomore Jonathan Salamon (Bridgewater, NJ/St. Joseph-Metuchen) and freshman Akeem Lloyd (Atlantic City, NJ/Atlantic City) will lead the Scarlet Raptors’ strong 800-meter contingent at the ECAC Championships at Oneonta State University in Oneonta, New York, May 17-18.