Fall Sports Wrap Up Their Seasons

Softball team ends season with trip to national tourney
The Lady Tigers went 1-2 at the national tournament in Clermont, Fla., May 15-17, defeating Briarcliffe College 4-1, then losing two straight, 2-1 to Seminole (Okla.) and 2-1 to Midland, Texas.

Cowley finished with a school record for most victories in a single season with 53. Nine pitching, two team, and seven batting records fell during the season. Head coach Ed Hargrove said goodbye to nine sophomores. That group became the winningest group ever at Cowley with 96 victories in two seasons. “You get beat by Seminole and Midland 2-1, that’s not bad,” Hargrove said. “Of course, I’d rather have the win. But when it was all over, I tried to explain to the girls that we’re really a Division II school by definition by the type of scholarships we give. We were playing in the national tournament with teams that can give full rides (scholarships).”


Men’s tennis team sixth at national tournament
The men’s tennis team wrapped up its play in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II Tournament May 16, finishing in sixth place. The Tigers scored 27 points. “I’m very pleased,” head coach Larry Grose said. “ We just couldn’t be happier with the way it turned out.” Three singles players and one doubles team advanced to the second round. On the second day, Cowley improved its stock to fifth place after advancing four singles and three doubles teams. Two flights reached the semifinal round, Jeff Stone at No. 4 singles and the No. 3 doubles team of Josh Cobble and Tim Frick. However, neither flight advanced. “We had a good season,” Grose said. “I’m really proud of the guys and the way they played all year.”



Women’s No. 3 doubles earns national championship
The No. 3 doubles team of freshmen Kelle Stinson and Jackie Gilmore took first place at the NJCAA Division II Tournament May 5-9 in College Station, Texas. The victory gives Stinson and Gilmore first-team All-American honors as well. Teammate Suzanne Fry became a two-time All-American after she finished second in the nation at No. 2 singles. As a team, the Lady Tigers finished sixth with 25 1/2 points, just two points behind fifth-place Mesa. “Every one of my players reached a bracket final, and that’s never happened,” Cowley coach André Spence said. “I’m real pleased.”

Baseball season full of ups and downs
After winning the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division eight consecutive years, baseball coach Dave Burroughs figured it was time to let somebody else win it. Cowley took second behind Neosho, but was playing its best ball of the season when it swept through the Eastern Sub-Regionals with a perfect 4-0 record. The Region VI Tournament in Liberal was a different matter. The Tigers lost the opener 3-2 to Seward, yet battled through the loser’s bracket to face Neosho. It would have had to beat Neosho twice, and it didn’t happen as Cowley lost the first game 9-4. The Tigers ended the season with a 36-22 record.

Girardi competes at golf nationals
Louie Girardi, a sophomore from Ponca City, Okla., struggled through three of his four rounds at the NJCAA Division II Golf Tournament at Palm Valley in Phoenix, Ariz. Girardi shot 81-82-82-75 for a four-day total of 320.

Track teams 15th, 16th at national championships
The outdoor track season came to a close with several athletes competing at nationals in Levelland, Texas. Cowley’s women’s team finished 15th in the nation, while the men were 16th, significant improvements from a year ago. Freshman Jennifer Goldsmith was second in the javelin at 137 feet 7 inches.

Summer 2003