Starting Dec. 20 through Dec. 29, we are reliving the top games, championships, awards, firsts, and memories from the year that was in the Ten For 2010 series. You the fans can vote on your top story of the year starting Dec. 29, and the results will be unveiled on New Year's Day. We present our top 10 in chronological order, not in a ranking of any sort.
Ten For 2010
Dec. 20:
The Hall of Champions
Dec. 21:
Women's Basketball In The NCAA Tournament
Dec. 22: Lax Comes Back
Dec. 23:
Softball's NCAA Run
Lebanon Valley softball had appeared in the NCAA Tournament before, receiving the program's first bid in 2008. But what the team was missing was a win in the postseason tournament. In 2010, they received a second chance and capitalized.
After falling to nationally-ranked Messiah in the Commonwealth Conference championship, the Dutchmen gathered and eagerly awaited the announcement of the NCAA Tournament field. An at-large bid was given and the team was shipped to a familiar territory – Ithaca, N.Y. – where the regional was held in 2008.
“Reaching the NCAA tournament in 2010 for only the second time in program's history was one of the best experiences in my life,” shortstop
Meghan Donoghue said. “Being on the team in 2008 when we made our first-ever NCAA appearance, I can easily say that our team in 2010 was much more prepared and excited for the journey. It definitely showed with our success in Ithaca.”
Opening play against Polytechnic (N.Y.), the game remained close through the first five innings with neither team crossing home plate. That quickly changed in the sixth inning with a solo home run from Donoghue. That was all the Dutchmen needed as they advanced with a 1-0 win.
Up next were the host Bombers and with home field advantage, Ithaca claimed a 3-1 win and sent LVC to the consolation bracket.
Refusing to let the loss dictate the next game, the team rolled to a 7-2 victory over King's and set up a meeting with sixth-ranked Cortland State later in the day.
In a riveting pitcher's duel, Lebanon Valley came out on top. Donoghue crossed home plate on a wild pitch in the seventh-inning after she reached base on a triple, and
Laura Snyder held the Red Dragons to one hit while notching nine strikeouts in the 1-0 win. Against a legitimate national title contender in Cortland, it would go down as one of the best wins in the history of the program.
Looking to keep the momentum going, the Dutchmen faced Alfred the following day but lost 4-1. Despite falling short of a trip to the World Series, Lebanon Valley made program history with the team's first win in NCAA play.
“As a team, we had so much fun in Ithaca on and off the field - whether it was performing a mock graduation for our seniors, having talent shows, dancing in the hotel room before games, eating at Applebee's two nights in a row or celebrating after our victories - there were never any dull moments,” Donoghue said. “Although we did not win it all, I know every single one of my teammates gave 110% not only that long weekend, but every single day of the season.”
