Softball scores Canadian champ
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 3:14PM 
Sophomore Natalie Becker recorded 29 strikeouts in 23 innings on the mound during her championship run with the U-19 Bobcats back in August.By Jeff Broduer
brodeurj@mytjnow.com
The Winthrop softball team is already gaining momentum heading into the 2012 season, even though the opening game is still 22 days away.
Over this past fall, sophomore pitcher Natalie Becker played a major role in helping the ON1 Brantford Bobcats capture this years U-19 Women’s Canadian National Title.
The Waterloo, Ontario native posted an impressive 3-0 record to go along with a 0.91 earned run average in her 23 innings during the championship run back in August. This title marks the second time that Becker has won a Canadian Championship, with the first coming back in 2008 in the U-16 division.
“I am extremely proud of Natalie,” said Winthrop head softball coach Mark Cooke. “She pitched all week long and was terrific in the 10 inning finale. She showed her competitive spirit and mental toughness through a long week. I followed every game on the Internet and really enjoyed her having a terrific National Tournament.”
Becker, a business administration major, finished 4-11 in her first season at Winthrop and led the Lady Eagles in strikeouts with 107 in just 100 innings pitched. With a difficult non-conference schedule on tap for 2012, Cooke is hoping that Becker’s success in the Canadian League carries over to the season.
““We’re playing 11 teams that were in the tournament last year and 10 teams in the top 55 RPI,” said Cooke, who is in his 23rd year with the Lady Eagles. “Our non-conference schedule is tough. We’re challenging our kids really hard this year to get better and the only way to do it is to play the best. The Lead-off Classic has some great teams. What else can you do? I don’t think I could have put together a more challenging schedule for us. The players wanted to be challenged and I believe they will be.”
Winthrop will have their hands full this year after coming off a 16-36 campaign last season and now having to face 8 teams that finished in the Top 25 in 2011. Additionally, the team’s first 20 games will all be away from home due to four different tournaments to start off the season, a stretch of 12 games over 12 days with over 9,600 miles traveled. Only then will the team return to Rock Hill, S.C. for their first home game of the season.
On a positive note, the team will be returning seven on their ten starters from last year’s roster to provide leadership and stability.
The Lady Eagles will kick off their season on Feb. 10 in Columbia, S.C. to take on Cleveland State in the Palmetto State Showdown. Winthrop fans looking to root their team on at home will have to wait until Mar. 9 when they take on St. John’s as part of the Winthrop Adidas Invitational. That game will be slated for 12 p.m.
