Loss to Pitt-Bradford brings end to ’05 season, Kankey’s tenure

NEW CONCORD, Ohio—The Defiance College Softball team fell to the University of Pittsburgh-Bradford on Sunday, 3-10, ending their second-straight run into the NCAA Tournament and closing out the DC career of DC Softball skipper Kary Kankey.

Kalette Peters and Monica Sigurdson each went 1-for-3 with an RBI, while Renee Steffen smashed a solo home run in the first inning to lead the Jacket offense. Mandy Crank, Robin Diers and Alicia Allen all saw time pitching, but were unable to stop the awakened Bradford bats.

A three-run top of the first got the Jackets off to a fast start, with Steffen’s dinger and Sigurdson’s single plating one run each, before a ground-out by Peters closed out the DC scoring. Bradford took command of the game when Miranda Bailey hit a grand slam in the bottom of the second to give Pitt a 7-3 lead.

The Yellow Jackets end their tremendous ’05 campaign with a 28-17 record.

After five years at the helm of Yellow Jacket Softball, Kankey is stepping down, moving due to a job opportunity within her family.

Under Kankey, the softball program has seen remarkable growth, advancing to the NCAA Tournament and winning the Heartland Conference Tournament in each of the past two seasons.

“The softball program has come a long way in five years and I am really proud of what we have accomplished, especially the last two years with two second-place regular-season finishes and two tournament championship in 2004 and 2005,” said the DC skipper.

Kankey spoke of the runs to the NCAAs, “Winning the HCAC tournament and going to NCAA Regionals these past two seasons were the absolute highlights of my time here.”

The Jackets finished the 2005 regular season with a 22-14 record and a 11-3 mark in the HCAC, just behind 12-2 Transylvania.

The University of Dayton alumna led the Jackets to many other successes in her tenure. The 2004 squad was honored as an All-Academic Team by the National Fastpitch Coaches’ Association, while former pitcher Sarah Harman was awarded an NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship following the 2003 season.

Harman was one of nine Jackets named to the All-HCAC team under Kankey. Recent recipients included Kelly and Kacy VanderHorst, Chris Moreo, and Alicia Allen, while ’05 senior Kalette Peters was named to the NCAA All-Regional Team in 2004.

“I've enjoyed my five years here and have no regrets,” stated Kankey. “Dr. Kaiser gave me a wonderful opportunity here to be successful and I can't thank him enough for that.”

Kankey continued, “Our players have done an incredible job in the classroom and on the field.” “This year's senior class really signifies what Defiance College Softball is all about.”

Speaking of the class of ’05 seniors, Kankey remarked “They are great kids on and off the field.” “They have really led this program to where it is now and hopefully the underclassmen can continue moving the program forward.”

Kankey’s husband recently accepted a job opportunity out of the area, which prompted the move.

“I love my job and working with my team on a daily basis - they made my job easy and I always looked forward to coming into work everyday,” finished Kankey. “There are so many good people in our department and on campus that genuinely want the best for the students here and I really liked being a part of that. I'm really going to miss the Defiance College community.”

The Defiance College community will miss her as well.