Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, May 21, 1994 TAG: 9405210062
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ANDREA KUHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"I feel like I've been a pioneer, but I don't want to be a pioneer anymore. I want to be a settler," Walker said Friday, after her third-seeded Trenton State team squeaked by second-seeded Rowan 3-2 in the second round of the NCAA Division III softball championships at the Moyer Complex in Salem.
But if anyone deserves to take a breather, it's Walker, now in her 21st season as coach at the New Jersey school. Her numbers speak for themselves:
Walker is the winningest active Division III coach, with a record of 671-148. Second-place Betty Hoff of Luther, Iowa, is more than 200 victories off the pace.
Trenton is the only team in the country to earn 14 consecutive berths to the national tournament (the first two under the sanctioning of the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women in 1980 and 1981).
The Lions have never finished worse than fourth in national play, winning the title in 1983, 1987, 1989 and 1992.
Walker has coached 54 All-Americans and six national players of the year. She is a four-time national coach of the year.
Walker earned a bachelor's and master's degree from Georgia and a doctorate from Texas, where she set up programs for women in volleyball and basketball.
It was at Texas that Walker decided she could handle being a softball coach on a full-time basis. But that distinction wouldn't come for many years.
"I feel like my job didn't even start until 1980 in the AIAW," Walker said. "There wasn't always a chance to make a living in women's athletics. Coaching was always just a sideline to teaching. I taught graduate classes, undergraduate classes, you name it."
Walker's softball teams were the first to wear long pants "and not leftover basketball uniforms." They also were the first to travel south for "spring training."
"In a way - and I don't mean to sound pretentious - I think I've set an example for people in the Northeast, shown them how softball should be played," she said.
Walker attributes her success to recruiting savvy and the teaching of fundamentals. Her hard work is paying off again this year, as evidenced by Trenton's performance in Salem.
On Friday, the Lions avenged two regular-season losses to New Jersey Athletic Conference rival Rowan and advanced to the semifinal round of the winners' bracket.
Michelle Carlson went 2-for-3 for Trenton (46-4), including her 20th home run of the season, a solo shot in the first inning.
Ernie Grove (22-1) pitched a complete game, giving up two runs on four hits while striking out six.
Up next for Trenton is fifth-seeded Central (Iowa) at 2 p.m. today.
Central knocked top seed and conference rival Buena Vista (Iowa) into the losers' bracket with a 2-0 victory on Friday afternoon before a crowd of 268.
The Beavers had beaten the Dutch (35-12) twice during the regular season, incentive enough for Central, the 1993 NCAA champion.
But the Dutch received an extra dose of motivation Friday morning when a newspaper headline incorrectly identified them as losers to Alma in a record-breaking, 16-inning contest Thursday night. Central beat the Scots 2-0.
"I tried to use it as a historical thing," said George Wares, Central's coach. "I asked them if they had ever heard of what happened with Dewey and Truman, but they gave me blank looks, so it kind of backfired. We joked about it."
Allen (17-5) struck out two and walked one while giving up no hits in five innings against Buena Vista.
The Beavers (34-4) went on to lose 7-5 to sixth-seeded Bridgewater State on Friday evening.
The Bears (36-7) broke it open the bottom of the fifth inning. With the score tied at 5, second baseman Janet Maguire drew a walk. Kristy Wilbur's sacrifice advanced Maguire to second. Shortstop Angela Constantine then hit a home run to score Maguire and provide the final margin.
Bridgewater State plays Rowan, a 6-1 winner over Alma (Mich.), at 4 p.m. today. The winner of that game plays the loser of the Central-Trenton game at 6 p.m. in a semifinal of the losers' bracket.
Rowan (37-8), national runner-up last year, scored three runs in the top of the third, two in the fourth and one in the fifth in its victory over Alma (36-8).
by CNB