May 2, 2007
WKGC TO BROADCAST LADY COMMODORE GAMES
GCathletics.com - WKGC FM will broadcast all Commodore softball games at the Florida JUCO state tournament. You can listen to the broadcast by clicking on the green microphone at the top of this page. For the tournament bracket you can click the link below as well.

State Bracket

April 2, 2007
LADY COMMODORES CONTINUE WINNING WAYS
NEWS HERALD (Brad Milner ) - It’s rare for a student to step into a classroom and ace a test when they’re unprepared and unfocused despite all their cramming. The same is true for softball teams, especially ones like Gulf Coast that recently has been inconsistent. Final practices heading into this weekend’s FCCAA Gulf District/NJCAA Region 8 tournament are like going over notes in eager anticipation for the final exam. In other words, if the Lady Commodores (45-18) aren’t ready to contend by now they’ll never be. Gulf Coast coach Susan Painter is hopeful that three weeks of uninspired play are behind the Lady Commodores, who limp into the tournament with losses in eight of their last 14 games. “It’s the postseason now so something is on the line,” Painter said Tuesday. “That’s not to say we weren’t playing for anything before, but hopefully this will spark them.” Gulf Coast, ranked fifth in the state, opens at 11 a.m. Friday against South Florida (30-25) at the Auburndale Softball Complex. There is the potential of facing No. 2 Manatee in the second round of the winners’ bracket, a matchup that could go a long way to determining Gulf Coast’s fate, and a showdown with Chipola looms on the horizon. Moving past the first round would provide a boost of confidence given how up and down the Lady Commodores have been lately. “The first game’s so crucial because it will lead you there,” Painter said. “Winning that first game will give us the type of bright spot we need.” Surviving the first day is a key to success down the road. It’s no surprise that Gulf Coast teams which advanced to nationals have done well in the early rounds at state. The ones that fell short have struggled early. Painter expects Gulf Coast’s fate to be decided by its group of sophomores, which begins with pitcher Sarah Dooley and extends to players such as Saskia Kosterink and Debby Connor. Dooley is again the workhorse of the staff after Brooke Ross was dismissed from the team and freshman Ersy Pacheco has struggled. Dooley also has hit a slide, however, losing her last two decisions. It’s time to move past that, she said, and prepare for the marathon that is the state tournament. “I know there’s pressure on me and I have to step up,” Dooley said. “But this is what I live for. I want to pitch when my team needs me.” Dooley (28-9) can only do so much, as even a rubber-armed hurler can tire. She’ll need offensive support to keep from stalling, and Gulf Coast must play solid defense and limit mistakes in crucial situations. Kosterink has been Gulf Coast’s most consistent hitter, finishing the Panhandle Conference schedule batting over .400 with seven home runs. Kosterink has set the tone for Gulf Coast’s offense as its leadoff batter. Painter expects more of the same this weekend. Painter also singled out Connor, who has again displayed the power to make her a feared hitter, and Bethlehem graduate Nichole Ward, a rising contributor. Painter knows what to expect from those players. Others must produce, and more hitters must come through, she said. Ward agreed, adding that the rich history of Gulf Coast’s program has given players a new outlook. Many past Gulf Coast teams had 50 wins by now. The only way the Lady Commodores can achieve that plateau is to keep playing. “It’s a motivating factor for us because we haven’t done as well as other teams have,” Ward said. “There’s pressure to be better and we know we can be better.” Painter has seen a lot of softball and is not one to give up on her team. But even she is baffled by the Lady Commodores’ inability to put a stretch of good games together. “The complacency is the most difficult thing to deal with,” Painter said. “Plus we need to compete all the time. Why wouldn’t you want to go out there and compete? “We’ve seen a little bit of that last weekend, the will to come back and play with pride. Now they need to display it more.” If the struggles continue, Gulf Coast won’t have to worry about playing for a state title. But Dooley thinks there’s more to the Lady Commodores than what they’ve shown in their recent losses. “This team definitely still has the ability to win this tournament,” Dooley said. “But to win it we’ll have to work as a team.”
News Herald Article

April 20, 2007
GCCC SOFTBALL SPLITS WITH PJC
NEWS HERALD (Brad Milner ) - Not even Sophomore Night could squeeze some consistency out of the Gulf Coast softball team. The Lady Commodores broke out for an 8-0 run-rule win against visiting Okaloosa-Walton at Joe Tom King Field in the first game of a doubleheader on Thursday. However, Gulf Coast stranded nine baserunners in Game 2 and had to settle for a split with a 3-0 loss. The split left Gulf Coast with a 44-15 overall record and a 14-6 mark in the Panhandle Conference, finishing in second place behind champion Chipola. O-W finished the conference slate at 28-28, 8-12, with hopes for a state playoff berth still alive. O-W needed Chipola to sweep Pensacola on Thursday to set up a playoff for fourth place and the final state tournament berth. Results of the Chipola-Pensacola doubleheader were not available as of press time. Thursday’s twinbill played out much like it has over the past two weeks for Gulf Coast. Rays of hope spring up, only to be dashed by head-scratching mistakes and lack of pop at the plate. “That’s it right there,” Gulf Coast coach Susan Painter said. “You would have hoped they got a feel for it after the first game, but we didn’t carry it over into the second game at all. “That was another case of not coming through with the big hit when we desperately needed it. And it’s another sign of some people doing the same things over and over again, and that won’t get the job done.” The day began with promise as Gulf Coast’s Debby Connor, a sophomore who is the school’s all-time leader in home runs and RBIs, stroked a grand slam in the first inning to give the Lady Commodores a 4-0 lead. One more run in the second inning and three more in the fourth, capped by a solo home run by Sarah Smith and Jenn Monaghan’s two-run homer, secured the run rule. Meantime, Sarah Dooley, another sophomore and the school’s all-time wins and strikeouts leader, pitched a no-hitter, finishing with six strikeouts and three walks in the game shortened to five innings. It was Dooley’s second no-hitter of the season, as she first secured the feat against Enterprise-Ozark on Feb. 14. Monaghan, Smith and Saskia Kosterink, all sophomores, as well as freshman Amanda Byers all had two hits for the Lady Commodores. The success in Game 1 was fleeting in the second contest, when the same group of four batters combined for one hit apiece. Dooley also struggled in relief of starter Ersy Pacheco, Dooley tossing three innings with three walks and one strikeout. Nikki Smith paced Gulf Coast with two hits, including a double in the fourth inning, but she was one of the nine baserunners stranded by O-W pitcher Elizabeth Kaiser, who threw a seven-hitter with one walk and one strikeout for the win. O-W scored all the runs it needed in the first as Briana Nelson, who led off the game with a double, scored on Katie Hardcastle’s single and Fallon Fisher was plated on a Connor error. The Lady Raiders added insurance in the fourth. Gulf Coast’s best chance to break through came in the sixth inning when it loaded the bases with no outs. Kaiser was able to induce a ground out at home plate, struck out Amanda Bailey and forced a popout by Valerie Pena to end the threat. Hardcastle finished 2 for 4 with two RBIs, Samantha Hastings was 2 for 3 with a run and Shannon Tinkley 2 for 4 for O-W, which had 10 hits in Game 2, including eight off Pacheco in four innings. Gulf Coast had just seven hits in Game 2. “That’s not the way you win ballgames,” Painter said. “If you want to go to state and come back with a trophy, you better find the consistency. “If you come right back after a good game with a bad one, then you won’t get very far.” Gulf Coast finishes the regular season with road doubleheaders against Thomas College of Georgia and Wallace State-Dothan, Ala., on Saturday and Sunday. Any momentum in those games will be crucial for state preparations. “We’re 44-15, which isn’t bad,” Painter said. “But we’re not where we want to be. “There’s too many ups and downs. We need to find a rhythm.”
News Herald Article

April 18, 2007
GCCC SOFTBALL SPLITS WITH PJC
NEWS HERALD (Brad Milner ) - Gulf Coast played 17 innings of junior college softball Tuesday night with less-than-preferred results. The Lady Commodores split with visiting Pensacola, dropping the first game 1-0 in nine innings and winning the second 3-2 in eight innings in the doubleheader played at Joe Tom King Field. The split wrapped up the Panhandle Conference title for Chipola, which split with Tallahassee on Tuesday. The Lady Indians can do no worse than tie the Lady Commodores, but Chipola owns the head-to-head tiebreaker. Nichole Ward (Bethlehem) singled in Debby Connor with the winning run to salvage a victory in Game 2. Saskia Kosterink finished 2 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs, her solo shot tying the game 1-1 in the first inning. Jenn Monaghan and Nikki Smith were each 2 for 4 and Connor finished 2 for 3 for Gulf Coast. Sarah Dooley improved to 27-7 after earning the win in relief of starter Ersy Pacheco. Key hits weren’t forthcoming in Game 1, as the Lady Commodores (43-14, 13-5) stranded 15 baserunners. Gulf Coast loaded the bases three times without scoring. Dooley went the distance in the losing effort. “Offensively we just didn’t get it done and I can’t even describe why we’re not doing it,” Gulf Coast coach Susan Painter said. “We had too many chances to open the door and we couldn’t do it.” Painter said Gulf Coast must play better in the final games heading into the state tournament May 4-6 in Auburndale. “It’s all about playing with pride at this point and adding a little heart,” Painter said. “The state tournament is a whole new round and we have to be ready to play it.” Gulf Coast hosts Okaloosa-Walton on Thursday for the team’s Sophomore Night before playing two nonconference doubleheaders to close out the regular season.
News Herald Article

April 15, 2007
GCCC SOFTBALL CLINCHES STATE BERTH
NEWS HERALD (Brad Milner ) - It’s good to be home. On Saturday, Gulf Coast played at Joe Tom King Field for the first time since March 20. The Lady Commodores entertained North Florida, sweeping the Lady Sentinels 10-3 and 15-1 in a second game shortened to five innings due to the run rule. Gulf Coast improved to 42-13 overall and 12-4 in the conference and it clinched a berth in next month’s state tournament. The Lady Commodores recently wrapped up a 16-game road trip in which they finished 10-6, with losses in three of their last four games, all in the conference. Saturday served as the perfect opportunity for a rebound against the cellardwelling Lady Sentinels (11-37, 1-15). “We made it to our next step of many more steps hopefully to come,” Gulf Coast coach Susan Painter said. “We talked about how important these games were and we really needed to play them. Thankfully the weather held off and we were able to do that.” Gulf Coast amassed 26 hits, 13 in each game, with the second game featuring home runs by Debby Connor, Saskia Kosterink and Amanda Byers, who was Gulf Coast’s offensive catalyst. Byers finished 7 for 8 with a double, homer, three RBIs and four runs scored. “This was a really good pickme-up for the whole team,” Byers said. “Especially with two more conference doubleheaders left to play.” Byers said Gulf Coast relished the chance to break out, even if it was against the lastplace team in the conference. The recent losing skid, which included two run-rule losses at Chipola and a missed opportunity for a sweep at Tallahassee, was humbling, but not destructive to the team’s psyche. “It was good to win like this,” Byers said. “It’s the best way to go into next week.” North Florida played Gulf Coast close in Madison on March 24. The Lady Commodores fought for a 7-2, 6-5 sweep of a twinbill in what were the first two games of the road trip. Saturday, Byers said, was vastly different. Sarah Dooley (26-6) started and won both games, pitching five innings with seven strikeouts and three walks in the first game and four strikeouts and a walk in three innings of Game 2. Dooley gave up three hits in each appearance, the most damaging in Game 1 when she yielded two home runs and three runs in the fourth inning. The homers, a two-run blast hit by Maddie Beddingfield and a solo shot by Jennifer Miskell, were North Florida’s only shining moments. The three-run fourth was nowhere near Gulf Coast’s eight-run second inning in Game 1. The Lady Commodores also scored eight runs in the first inning of the second game. In Game 1, Byers and Sarah Smith were each 3 for 4, Nikki Smith 2 for 4 with a double and a run and Trinity Pollard (Rutherford) 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run for Gulf Coast. Ersy Pacheco pitched the final two innings, giving up two hits with no strikeouts and no walks. Miskell was 2 for 3, while starter Chelsi Taylor took the loss after giving up nine runs on 13 hits with five walks and no strikeouts. Gulf Coast proved even more potent at the plate against Game 2 starter Melissa Smith, who was battered for 15 runs, 11 earned, with four walks and one strikeout. Byers’ homer, a two-run shot, sparked the eight-run first inning. She was 4 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs, while Kosterink was 3 for 4 with a solo home run in the third and Connor was 2 for 2 with a two-run homer, also in the third. Connor is accustomed to powerful outputs. The speedy Byers is not, but gladly accepted the praise from her teammates for her first career homer. “I was kind of joking with everyone because the wind was blowing out,” Byers said. “I was telling them that I’d hit one out and I did.” The offensive outburst was too much for North Florida, which had just six hits in Game 2, led by Natasha Berry’s two singles. The Lady Sentinels notched their only run, Taylor scoring on Berry’s RBI single, in the third inning. Next up for Gulf Coast is a doubleheader against Pensacola on Tuesday. It, too, is at home. “It’s always nice to be at home,” Byers said. “To be in your own bed and your own place where you can feel most comfortable.”
News Herald Article

April 12, 2007
LADY COMMODORES SPLIT WITH EAGLES
NEWS HERALD (Eric Jorgensen ) - Sarah Dooley tossed a four-hitter in the first game for her 24th win, as Gulf Coast split a Panhandle Conference softball doubleheader against Tallahassee on Wednesday. The Lady Commodores won the first game 6-2, but dropped the second 7-3. Gulf Coast trailed 2-1 starting the top of the fifth inning when Nichole Ward (Bethlehem) led off with a home run. The Lady Commodores added another run, then got three more in the seventh inning. Ward finished 2 for 3, and Sarah Smith was 3 for 3. Dooley (24-6) struck out four and allowed two unearned runs. In the second game, Gulf Coast made five errors. “They put the ball in play and we didn’t make the plays,” said Gulf Coast coach Susan Painter. Ersy Pacheco (7-5) was the losing pitcher, allowing 10 hits and striking out one. Ward was 2 for 3, including an RBI double. Saskia Kosterink was 2 for 3, and Amanda Byers 2 for 4. The Lady Commodores are 40-13 overall and remained in second place with a 10-4 mark in the conference. The Lady Eagles are now 28-12, 8-6, sitting in sole possession of third place. Gulf Coast plays its next three doubleheaders at home, starting Saturday against North Florida with games at 1 and 3 p.m.
News Herald Article

April 6, 2007
CHIPOLA SHUTS DOWN GC IN SOFTBALL SWEEP
NEWS HERALD (Brad Milner ) - Chipola College looked every bit like the top-ranked junior college softball team in the nation on Thursday. Gulf Coast coach Susan Painter can attest to that. The Lady Indians (38-5, 10-2 Panhandle Conference) swept the visiting Lady Commodores (39-12, 9-3) with a pair of 8-0 runrule victories to move into first place, one game ahead of Gulf Coast. Chipola also won the regular-season series 3-1 to secure the crucial head-to-head tiebreaker. Chipola used a seven-run second inning to take control of Game 1. The Lady Indians never relinquished the momentum. “We played really well and this was two big wins for us,” Chipola coach Belinda Hendrix said. “This puts us back on top of the conference, which is where we want to be.” Hendrix talked with the Lady Indians about the importance of scoring with two outs. Chipola took her words to heart by scoring all seven runs in the second inning of Game 1 after two outs. Gulf Coast starter Sarah Dooley retired the first two batters, then committed a throwing error, allowing Martina Landrum to reach first base. Seven more Chipola baserunners reached, including two by way of hit batters.
News Herald Article

April 4, 2007
LADY DORES SET RECORDS IN SWEEP OF PJC
NEWS HERALD (Brad Milner ) - Gulf Coast set school records for runs and hits in one inning in defeating homestanding Pensacola 17-2 in the first game of a Panhandle Conference junior college softball doubleheader on Tuesday. Gulf Coast swept the twinbill with a 3-2 win in Game 2. The Lady Commodores (39-10, 9-1) tallied 14 runs on 13 hits in the fifth inning of Game 1, the frame punctuated by grand slams by Saskia Kosterink and Debby Connor and a solo homer by Amanda Bailey (Fort Walton Beach). Kosterink finished 4 for 5 with five RBIs, Connor was 3 for 4 with seven RBIs, Bailey 2 for 3 with two home runs and two RBIs, Sarah Smith 2 for 4 and Amanda Byers 2 for 4 for Gulf Coast, which took over sole possession of first place in the conference. In Game 2, Connor’s solo home run in the seventh capped the win. She finished with two RBIs and nine on the night. Kosterink was 3 for 4 and Byers 2 for 4. Sarah Dooley (23-5) won both games, the first as a starter and the second in relief of Ersy Pacheco. Gulf Coast plays Chipola in Marianna on Thursday, with the first game of the doubleheader set for 4 p.m.
News Herald Article

April 1, 2007
GC WOMEN SWEEP OKALOOSA-WALTON
NEWS HERALD (Brad Milner ) - This is what Susan Painter called grinding out some wins. Gulf Coast needed two comebacks and had to hold off Okaloosa-Walton in both games for a junior college softball doubleheader sweep on Saturday. Gulf Coast won the first game 5-4 behind Debby Connor’s tworun home run. The Lady Commodores turned a double play with the bases loaded in the seventh inning for a 7-6 win in Game 2. Gulf Coast improved to 37-10 overall and 7-1 in the Panhandle Conference, pulling into a firstplace tie with Chipola, which split a doubleheader against Pensacola on Friday. “They were really good ballgames,” Painter said. “I think we were a little tired, but we kind of grinded them out with big hits when we needed them.” Sarah Dooley (21-5) earned both wins for Gulf Coast, the first as a starter in Game 1 and the second in relief of Ersy Pacheco. Dooley gave up seven hits and had seven strikeouts in the first game. She gave up two runs on five hits in five innings of relief in Game 2.
News Herald Article

March 29, 2007
LADY COMMODORES SPLIT DOUBLEHEADER
NEWS HERALD (Roy Houpt ) - The Gulf Coast women’s softball team completed a road trip on Wednesday with a 5-3 record. The Lady Commodores (35-10 overall) split a doubleheader with Georgia Perimeter, winning the first game 4-2, but losing the second 8-3. GCCC swept Young Harris 11-0, 4-2 on Tuesday. Sarah Dooley (19-5) pitched a onehitter in the 4-2 win over Perimeter. Dooley gave up a two-out, two-run double in the third inning. Jennifer Monaghan and Debby Connor were both 2 for 4. In the second game, Gulf Coast led 3-1 before giving up seven runs on six hits in the sixth inning. The Lady Commodores, 5-1 in the Panhandle Conference, play a doubleheader at Okaloosa-Walton in Niceville on Saturday at 1 p.m.
News Herald Article

March 27, 2007
GC DROPS TWIN BILL ON ROAD
NEWS HERALD (Eric Jorgensen ) - If any team is capable of having Susan Painter’s number, it’s Chattanooga State. Painter’s Gulf Coast softball team dropped a junior college doubleheader against Chattanooga State Monday afternoon, losing 7-0, 5-1, in what was the Lady Tigers’ fourth win over the Lady Commodores this season. Chattanooga State also defeated Gulf Coast once at Joe Tom King Field and another time in a nine-inning encounter during a tournament at Okaloosa-Walton College in Niceville. The doubleheader featured the third and fourth contests of a 16-game road trip for Gulf Coast, and Painter hopes the rest of the voyage goes smoother than it did on Monday. “That’s about as good of a beating as you can get,” Painter said. “We didn’t have it all. “We we’re ready to compete against a good team and we haven’t been challenging teams the way we need to be.” Game 1 slipped away slowly, Painter said. The Lady Commodores (32-9) again failed to produce runs, leaving the bases loaded in the first inning and stranding 10 baserunners in the game. Meantime, Ersy Pacheco gave up 10 hits in the loss, dropping to 6-2 on the season. Brooke Ross tossed the final two innings for Gulf Coast. The second game had more promise, as Whitney Johnson scored on a Nikki Smith single to tie the affair at 1-1. However, the promise faded quickly after Chattanooga State used several Gulf Coast miscues to move ahead 4-1 in the second inning. Johnson finished 2 for 3 and Amanda Bailey added a double for Gulf Coast in the second game. Sarah Dooley (17-5) took the loss. Gulf Coast travels to Young Harris, Ga., for a doubleheader today, the first game beginning at 1 p.m. CDT. It’s then on to Georgia Perimeter on Wednesday. Painter hopes the Lady Commodores can break through their funk before returning to Florida for the remainder of the Panhandle Conference schedule, which is highlighted by a trip to play co-leader Chipola College in Marianna on April 5. “We have to get out of this,” Painter said. “We look forward to four more games and hopefully we can play well. “This is the time for our team to regroup. We need to get ourselves back up and ready to compete for the rest of the season.”
News Herald Article

March 25, 2007
DOOLEY SETS WIN MARK
NEWS HERALD (Eric Jorgensen ) - Sarah Dooley became Gulf Coast’s all-time winningest pitcher with a pair of victories on Saturday, as the Lady Commodores beat North Florida, 7-2 and 6-5. Dooley’s two victories give her 49 for her career, one better than the record previously held by Dottie Cupp. Dooley (17-4) went the distance in the first game, allowing seven hits and striking out 11. She was behind most of the game, until Gulf Coast scored six runs in the top of the sixth inning to erase a 2-1 deficit. Whitney Johnson’s run-scoring double tied the game, and the Lady Commodores just kept hitting that inning. “We really struggled until that inning; then we really busted out,” said Gulf Coast coach Susan Painter. “It was neat to see.” Johnson, Saskia Kosterink and Trinity Pollard (Rutherford) each had two hits. Kosterink scored two runs and had an RBI. In the second game, Dooley relieved Brooke Ross in the bottom of the second — an inning Painter would just as soon forget. Before it was done, North Florida had scored five runs on three hits and six walks, taking a 5-2 lead. It could have been worse, except the Lady Commodores escaped with an inning-ending double play. “That was the only good thing that happened that inning,” Painter said. “It was chaos. We could not find the plate.” However, Gulf Coast responded by scoring three runs in the top of the third inning and getting the game-winner on a Debby Connor home run in the top of the fourth. “After that, both teams kind of wilted in the 100-degree heat,” Painter said. Dooley allowed six hits and four walks, while striking out three, in the relief appearance. Amanda Bailey had a single, double and two RBIs. Gulf Coast raised its record to 32-7 overall and 5-1 in Panhandle Conference games. North Florida dropped to 10-28, 0-6 The Lady Commodores continue a long road trip by playing Monday in Chattanooga, Tenn.
News Herald Article

March 22, 2007
LADY COMMODORES SWEEP TALLAHASSEE
NEWS HERALD (Brad Milner ) - Gulf Coast softball coach Susan Painter used five words to describe her feelings after her Lady Commodores opened the season with two competitive doubleheaders. “I like where we are,” she said. Her description came after Gulf Coast swept visiting Tallahassee 6-2, 5-2 Tuesday night at Joe Tom King Field, helping the Lady Commodores improve to 30-7 overall and 3-1 in the Panhandle Conference. Gulf Coast opened the conference schedule with a split against Chipola on Saturday. Painter said Tuesday’s games revealed many strengths and weaknesses. The major strength was resiliency, as the Lady Commodores came back to post the victories after the Lady Eagles (20-8, 0-2) tied both games at 2-2. A weakness was not being able to put away Tallahassee earlier. “We’re still leaving way too many people on base,” Painter said. “They opened the door for us in the first game and we couldn’t pull through early.” Gulf Coast stranded nine baserunners in Game 1 and only three in the second game, though all three runners were left standing in scoring position. Tallahassee fared worse along the basepaths, stranding 15 baserunners in the two games. Seven of the 15 came in Game 1 against Gulf Coast starter Sarah Dooley. The sophomore worked her way out of two bases-loaded jams, one in each of the fourth and seventh innings. In the fourth, she notched two straight strikeouts and forced a grounder to end the threat. In the seventh, she struck out Brittany Welch, who set the Tallahassee school record for seasonal home runs earlier this season. “We pulled together and a lot of that was due to Sarah,” Painter said. “She kept them from gaining any more momentum because they could have taken us right out of the game.” Dooley gave up two runs on six hits with nine strikeouts and three walks in improving to 15-4 on the season. She is one win away from tying the Gulf Coast career mark of 48 set by Dottie Cupp. She also came on to earn her second save of the season in Game 2, striking out Welch again to end the contest.
News Herald Article

March 19, 2007
GC SWEEPS NON-CONFERENCE PAIR
NEWS HERALD (Eric Jorgensen ) - Gulf Coast’s softball team swept a nonconference doubleheader on Sunday at Joe Tom King Field, pushing its record to 28-7. The Lady Commodores beat Johnson County (Kan.) 11-3 in the first game, stopped after five innings because of the run rule; and beat Southeastern Iowa 4-3 in the second game. Sarah Dooley (14-4) was the winning pitcher in the first game, allowing three hits and two walks, while striking out seven, in four innings. She allowed just one earned run. Ersy Pacheco pitched the final inning. Amanda Byers led a potent hitting attack with two doubles and three runs. Pacheco had two hits, including a double, and drove in three runs. Debby Connor had two hits and two RBIs. Saskia Kosterink and Trinity Pollard (Rutherford) each had two hits. In the second game, Brooke Ross (9-2) pitched a complete game, allowing five hits, while striking out six. Gulf Coast trailed until the fifth inning, when Pacheco hit a two-run double to put the Lady Commodores ahead. Kosterink had three hits and scored two runs, Byers had two hits and drove in two runs, and Connor had two hits. Gulf Coast returns to Panhandle Conference action on Tuesday with a doubleheader at home against Tallahassee.
News Herald Article

March 18, 2007
GULF COAST, CHIPOLA SPLIT OPENER
NEWS HERALD (Brad Milner ) - Chipola College had Gulf Coast on the ropes. But, like any good champion, the Lady Commodores fought back to stave off what could have been a terrible beginning to the Panhandle Conference schedule. Chipola, ranked No. 1 in the state, defeated fourth-ranked Gulf Coast 4-1 Saturday in Game 1 of the conference opening doubleheader for both teams at Joe Tom King Field. However, any momentum disintegrated in a five-run Gulf Coast fifth inning in Game 2, as the Lady Commodores (26-7, 1-1) earned a split with a 6-3 win. The Game 1 victory was Chipola’s first against Gulf Coast since President George W. Bush was in his first term, but that wasn’t nearly enough to satisfy Lady Indians coach Belinda Hendrix. “Yes, the win is nice, but we wanted the sweep this doubleheader and I’m more disappointed in the loss,” Hendrix said. “We’re the No. 1 team in the state and we’re a better team than that.” Gulf Coast coach Susan Painter shared the same feelings as Hendrix, though she gladly accepted the outcome. Painter typically is no fan of a doubleheader split, but she was elated considering the alternative. “We needed that,” Painter said. “We were on the complacent side in the first game and that’s nowhere we want to be at this time of year.
News Herald Article

March 15, 2007
WINNING SOFTBALL TITLE DIFFICULT TASK
NEWS HERALD (Brad Milner ) - Winning three straight Panhandle Conference championships would typically be enough to qualify a team as a favorite. That’s not so this season. Gulf Coast faces a stern challenge this year in its quest for a fourth consecutive Panhandle crown. Three other teams already have proved to be more than competitive, and the list of would-be champions includes upstart Chipola, which opens at Gulf Coast on Saturday. Gulf Coast coach Susan Painter has won five conference titles in the past six seasons. Achieving a sixth championship won’t be easy, she said. “We’re ready for the challenge, and that’s what this is all about,” Painter said Wednesday. “That’s why we play the game, to face the challenge and see where we are.” Painter said consistency is key to winning another Panhandle title. She said there have been signs of inconsistency during the nonconference season, despite the team’s 25-6 record. “There’s been some (inconsistency) there, and we’ve experienced it and hopefully learned from it,” Painter said. “This is the battle. There are 20 games in our conference, and each team can beat the other teams.” Painter desires more production than the five runs per game Gulf Coast is scoring this season. The offensive surge begins with Saskia Kosterink, who leads all full-time players with a .398 batting average to go along with a team-high 34 runs scored, four home runs and 13 RBIs. Home runs also have come by way of Debby Connor and Jenn Monaghan, with eight and five homers, respectively. Connor is Gulf Coast’s career home run and RBI leader. One player noticeably missing among the offensive talk is sophomore Amanda Bailey, who batted .400 with five home runs and 45 RBIs as a freshman. A prolonged funk has left Bailey with a .209 average, no home runs and only three RBIs in 91 at-bats this season. Painter has kept Bailey in the starting lineup in right field. Painter’s hopeful the conference season can bring out the best in Bailey. “We’re still looking for her to break out, and we’re trying to tweak things here and there,” Painter said. “She is kind of making it harder than it actually is; she just needs to relax. “We’ve let her fight through it because she’s been a big part of our team for two years. Amanda is very important to us, especially with her leadership.” Sophomore Sarah Dooley, the conference’s pitcher of the year in 2006, is again a pivotal contributor in the pitcher’s circle. She is 13-3 with a 1.19 ERA, 100 strikeouts and 39 walks in 106 innings pitched. She is four wins shy of breaking the school record for career victories, and 38 strikeouts away from breaking another career mark, with both records held by Dottie Cupp. Brooke Ross adds an 8-2 mark, while Ersy Pacheco is 4-1. “Sarah knows that this is the time of year that she needs to have her best games if we are going to have a chance to make it back to state and defend our (state) title,” Painter said. The top four teams in the conference advance to the Gulf District tournament in Auburndale from May 4 to 6. The winners of the Gulf and Atlantic districts advance to the national tournament in Plant City May 17-19.
News Herald Article

March 11, 2007
GC SOFTBALL FALLS IN SEMI-FINALS
NEWS HERALD (Brad Milner ) - The Gulf Coast softball team went 1-1 in the second day of the Okaloosa-Walton Jimmie Stewart Memorial softball tournament on Saturday. The Lady Commodores (25-6) earned the second seed in the singleelimination draw and defeated Pasco-Hernando 4-2 before falling to Chattanooga State 5-4 in nine innings in the semifinal. Chipola College defeated Chattanooga State 14-2 to take the tournament championship. In the first game, Gulf Coast scored three runs in the fifth inning and both teams completed its scoring in the sixth. Debby Connor was 3 for 4 with a double and an RBI and Suzanne Smith 2 for 4 with two RBIs for Gulf Coast. Sarah Dooley (13-3) took the win after striking out six and walking one. Chattanooga State scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs of the second game. The teams were tied 2-2 at the end of seven and 3-3 after eight innings. Ersy Pacheco went the distance in the losing effort, falling to 4-1 after giving up five runs, two earned, on eight hits with three strikeouts and one walk. Smith and Amanda Byers chipped in RBIs and Heather Ivey (Rutherford) scored for the Lady Commodores. On the injury front, Jenn Monaghan turned her ankle at first base against Chattanooga State. Gulf Coast coach Susan Painter didn’t know the severity of the injury, but she hopes Monaghan can be ready for the Panhandle Conference opener Saturday against Chipola. The Lady Indians (26-3-1) head to Panama City on the heels of an easy time in this weekend’s Okaloosa-Walton tournament. Chipola outscored its opponents 38-2 on Saturday, including defeating Northeast Mississippi 20-0. In the semifinal, Chipola shut out Central Alabama, which defeated Gulf Coast 4-3 in pool play on Friday.
News Herald Article

March 10, 2007
LADY COMMODORES WIN TWO OF THREE IN TOURNEY
NEWS HERALD (Eric Jorgensen ) - Gulf Coast’s softball team won two of three games Friday on the first day of the Okaloosa-Walton Tournament — and will need to win three straight today to claim the championship. The Lady Commodores (24-5) beat Olney Central College (Ill.) 11-2 in five innings, beat Pasco-Hernando from New Port Richey 2-1 in a tiebreaker, and lost 4-3 to Central Alabama. Gulf Coast returns to action at 9 a.m. today in the first of what could be three games. The Lady Commodores would be eliminated with any loss. Debby Connor and Saskia Kosterink each homered, and Jenn Monaghan tripled, in the win over Olney. Brooke Ross (8-2) was the winning pitcher. In the second game, Gulf Coast took a 1-0 lead over Pasco Hernando on a sacrifice fly by Connor in the first inning. The Lady Commodores held that lead until the seventh, when Pasco-Hernando tied the score and sent the game into an international tiebreaker, where teams start each inning with a runner on second base. Monaghan ended the game with an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth. She finished the game 3 for 4. Sarah Dooley was the winning pitcher in relief. Starter Ersy Pacheco threw five innings without allowing a run. In the third game, Central Alabama scored three runs in the seventh inning to erase a 3-1 Gulf Coast lead. Dooley (12-3) was the losing pitcher.
News Herald Article

March 6, 2007
LADY COMMODORES CONTINUE WINNING WAYS
NEWS HERALD (Brad Milner ) - Gulf Coast extended its winning streak to eight games with a junior college softball doubleheader sweep of homestanding Abraham Baldwin on Monday The Lady Commodores (22-4) won Game 1 7-0. Gulf Coast then went up 7-0 after four innings of Game 2, but had to fend off a late rally for an 8-5 victory. In Game 1, Sarah Dooley struck out four, walked five and gave up three hits in improving to 11-2. Nichole Ward (Bethlehem) hit her first career home run, a three-run shot in the seventh, and Saskia Kosterink was 2 for 4. In Game 2, Brooke Ross (7-2) gave up five runs on five hits with three strikeouts and five walks. Amanda Byers was 2 for 4 with a triple and two RBIs, Jenn Monaghan was 2 for 4 with a two-run home run and Sarah Smith was 2 for 4. On Sunday, Debby Connor became Gulf Coast’s all-time home run leader. Her five homers during the Polk Tournament gave her seven on the year and 27 for her career, surpassing Marianna’s Blythe Golden, who hit 26 home runs in 2005-06. Connor hit a season-record 20 homers in her freshman season in 2006. Gulf Coast plays in the Okaloosa-Walton Tournament Friday and Saturday.
News Herald Article

March 5, 2007
LADY COMMODORES WIN POLK TOURNAMENT
NEWS HERALD (Laura Cornett ) - The Lady Commodores gave coach Susan Painter her 600th win on Saturday and kept adding to the total on Sunday, notching two more wins en route to claiming the title at the Polk Tournament. Gulf Coast (20-4), the only undefeated team in the tournament, opened the day with a 9-2 victory over Oakland, Mich., and came back to defeat St. Petersburg 8-4 in the second game. With the game tied 2-2 after two innings against Oakland, the Lady Commodores’ offense stepped up. Debby Connor led the charge, going 3 for 3 with a home run and four RBIs. Saskia Kosterink went 3 for 4 with two RBIs, and Valerie Pena and Amanda Bailey each went 2 for 3 for Gulf Coast. “We started hitting the ball and just opened it up,” said Painter. Brooke Ross, who improved to 6-2, pitched five innings, giving up five hits with two strikeouts. Sarah Dooley took over in the sixth to close out the game. In the second game, Gulf Coast took an early 2-0 lead, but St. Petersburg scored four runs in the third inning to go up 4-2. Connor’s strong performance at the plate continued. She was 3 for 4 with two home runs, one of them a grand slam. She drove in seven runs. Connor drove in 15 runs and belted five home runs during the tournament. Suzanne Smith was 2 for 4 in the second game. “She (Connor) was patient at the plate and hit the ball well all weekend,” Painter said. Ersy Pacheco earned the win for Gulf Coast. Painter acknowledged her assistant coaches as being a huge part of the Commodores success. “Bob Thayer and Tim Cox and I have been together for 13 years,” she said. “Tim and Bob have been key to the program. Tim basically does anything and everything for us. Bob’s main emphasis is on hitting and pitching.” The Lady Commodores head to Tifton, Ga., today to face ABAC in a doubleheader with the first game at 1 p.m. and the second at 3 p.m. GCCC returns home on March 17 for its Panhandle Conference opener against Chipola. The doubleheader kicks off at 1 p.m. with the second game slated for a 3 p.m. start.
News Herald Article

March 4, 2007
PAINTER NABS NUMBER 600 AND COUNTING
NEWS HERALD (Eric Jorgensen ) - Gulf Coast softball coach Susan Painter got a surprise serenade from her players, who belted out the birthday song Saturday night in a Chili’s restaurant — wishing her a happy 600th. That would be 600 wins, not birthdays. The Lady Commodores won three straight games to open the Polk Tournament on Saturday — beating Seminole 7-4, Palm Beach 11-1 and Indian River 5-4. They marked the 600th, 601st and 602nd victories for Painter as softball coach at Gulf Coast. “It’s kind of neat,” she said. “But it starts from our college giving us the opportunity to do this, so I have to commend our support staff.” She also singled out assistant coach Bob Thayer, who has been with Painter since Gulf Coast made the transition to fastpitch softball in 1994. “I definitely got a good one in Bob,” she said. On Saturday, Gulf Coast played some of its best softball of the season, Painter said. Sarah Dooley (9-2) was the winning pitcher in the games against Seminole and Indian River. In the first game, against Seminole, Dooley allowed eight hits and four walks, striking out four, in the complete-game victory. Nikki Smith led the offense, going 4 for 4 with a home run and four RBIs. Her two-run, two-out home run in the top of the seventh inning gave the Lady Commodores some breathing room, increasing a 5-4 lead to 7-4. Jenn Monaghan, Suzanne Smith and Amanda Byers each had two hits for Gulf Coast. Monaghan and Smith each drove in runs. In the second game, Gulf Coast beat Palm Beach 11-1 in five innings. Winning pitcher Brooke Ross (5-2) allowed two hits and three walks, while striking out six. Monaghan and Debbie Connor each had two hits, a home run and three RBIs. Sarah Smith had three hits and scored three runs; Byers had a double and triple; and Saskia Kosterink had two singles. In the team’s third game, Gulf Coast beat rival Indian River 5-4 in eight innings. “It was a fantastic game played by both teams,” Painter said. “It had a little bit of everything — big hits, a lot of strategy, some good pitching. I really think it’s the first full game we played this season.” It came at a good time against the right team. Last year, Gulf Coast beat Indian River for the state championship and eliminated them in the national tournament. “It’s a team we like to match up with,” Painter said. Gulf Coast (18-4) plays two more games today in the Polk Tournament, against Oakland at 9 a.m. CST and St. Petersburg at 11 a.m.
News Herald Article

March 1, 2007
ON DECK - 600 WINS
NEWS HERALD (Brad Milner ) - Those folks from Alabama sure know how to spoil a party. Gulf Coast softball coach Susan Painter entered Wednesday needing two wins to secure her 600th career fast-pitch victory at the school. The opponent, Wallace State College-Dothan, Ala., had other plans, however, taking the first game of a doubleheader by a 2-0 tally at Joe Tom King Field. Painter was able to grab win No. 599 as the Lady Commodores (15-4) won the second game 4-0 behind a combined two-hitter by Ersy Pacheco and Brooke Ross. Win No. 600 likely will come away from home, with Gulf Coast playing five games in the Polk Tournament this weekend. “Sure, you’d like for it to happen at home,” Painter said. “You’d like for it to happen where you are around the people who have supported you for so long. But it just wasn’t meant to be.” Jessica Barnard tossed a twohit shutout with three strikeouts and one walk for the Lady Governors (13-2) in Game 1 to snap a six-game Gulf Coast winning streak. A throwing error by Gulf Coast third baseman Jenn Monaghan kept a fifth-inning rally alive and led to the gamewinning run. Another error by catcher Nikki Smith scored the Lady Governors’ final run in the seventh inning. Gulf Coast’s two hits were singles, one each by Sarah Smith and Debby Connor. The hits came in the first and seventh innings. Barnard retired the Lady Commodores in order the other five innings. Gulf Coast starter Sarah Dooley took the loss, dropping her record to 7-2 after giving up two runs on seven hits with six strikeouts, no walks and one hit batter. Wallace-Dothan was largely without booming hits as many shots fell just shy of Gulf Coast defenders. The Lady Governor’s best poke came on a double by speedster Mesha Ellis, who finished 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored. “We came out really flat,” Painter said. “We couldn’t find something to get us going; we couldn’t get that big hit. I don’t think we competed and I don’t like that.”
News Herald Article

February 28, 2007
GULF COAST KNOCKS OUT MUSKEGON
NEWS HERALD (Brad Milner ) - Gulf Coast freshmen pitchers Ersy Pacheco and Brooke Ross notched shutouts as the Lady Commodores swept visiting Muskegon (Mich.) College, 8-0, 7-0 in a junior college softball doubleheader Tuesday at Joe Tom King Field. Pacheco (3-0) pitched a two hitter with six strikeouts and two walks in a five-inning run rule contest. Saskia Kosterink was 2 for 3 with two runs scored, Suzanne Smith was 2 for 2 with two RBIs and two runs, Heather Ivey (Rutherford) had a double and three RBIs and Whitney Johnson and Nichole Ward (Bethlehem) each added an RBI for Gulf Coast, which has won six straight games. In Game 2, Ross (4-2) tossed a three-hitter with nine strikeouts and one walk in a completegame performance. Smith was 3 for 3 with an RBI and a run, Johnson was 2 for 3 with a double, RBI and a run and Valerie Pena was 2 for 3. GC (14-3) hosts Wallace State-Dothan (Ala.) in a doubleheader today. The opener starts at 2 p.m.
News Herald Article

February 26, 2007
GCCC CLAIMS BEACH CLASSIC
NEWS HERALD (Eric Jorgensen ) - The Gulf Coast softball team won the third annual Gulf Coast Beach Classic — thanks to a pair of shutouts in games Sunday. Gulf Coast beat Oakland 5-0 and Jefferson State 3-0. Had the Lady Commodores (12-3) allowed even one run — even if they still won the games — they would have finished second in the 14-team tournament. Gulf Coast, which won all four of its games in the two-day event, edged Wallace-Hanceville for the championship using the final tiebreaker, runs scored. If Gulf Coast had given up a run Sunday in either game, Wallace-Hanceville would have won the title by allowing fewer runs in the tournament, the tiebreaker right before the one that decided the event. “Winning the tournament was something we need and something we can grow from,” said Gulf Coast coach Susan Painter. “This can make a difference during this time of year heading into conference play.” In Gulf Coast’s first game Sunday, Ersy Pacheco (2-0) allowed one hit and struck out four in four innings, and Brooke Ross struck out four in three innings for the combined 5-0 shutout of Oakland.
News Herald Article

February 25, 2007
LADY COMMODORES BACK ON TRACK WITH SWEEP
NEWS HERALD (Eric Jorgensen) - The Gulf Coast softball team answered its wakeup call on Saturday, playing with a passion it sorely missed just one day earlier. The Lady Commodores (10-3) opened their Beach Classic tournament with an 11-2 fiveinning bludgeoning of Lake Land College and an 8-4 victory over Darton College at Frank Brown Park. The wins came less than 24 hours after Gulf Coast was humbled at its home field by Chattanooga (Tenn.) State and Wallace State-Hanceville, Ala. Chattanooga State took advantage of late miscues for a 6-1 victory. Wallace-Hanceville jumped out early and never relented in an 8-0 run-rule win. The turn of events, something rarely seen by Susan Painter-coached teams, was enough to upset every player on the roster. A five-game winning streak for the state’s third-ranked team was snapped in terrible fashion on Friday. The only way to erase the memory was to play well on Saturday. “It was embarrassing for all of us,” Gulf Coast sophomore third baseman Jenn Monaghan said. “We didn’t want people to see us play like that because we are not anywhere near that kind of team. “We were all pretty upset and you don’t want something like that to happen again. That’s why we wanted to show people (on Saturday) what kind of team we really are.”
News Herald Article

February 24, 2007
LADY COMMODORES DROP TWO
NEWS HERALD (Eric Jorgensen ) - The Gulf Coast softball team learned they still have room for improvement after a pair of humbling losses to visiting Chattanooga State and Wallace State-Hanceville on Friday at Joe Tom King field. Chattanooga State won the first game 6-1 and Wallace held the Lady Commodores (8-3) scoreless in the second game for an 8-0 victory in five innings. In the first game, Sarah Dooley (5-1) took her first loss of the season after giving up five hits with five strikeouts. Gulf Coast held Chattanooga to a 0-0 tie through five innings before the Lady Commodores fell apart. “We couldn’t execute. We hit three batters and had four errors over the final two innings,” GCCC softball coach Susan Painter said. In the second game, Brooke Ross took the loss and fell to 3-2. Ersy Pacheco pitched the final two innings of the five-inning game. “They came out swinging and we just didn’t match up,” said Painter. “It was just a wakeup call.” Sarah Dooley will start today against Lake Land (Ill.) at 11 a.m. in the first game of the Beach Classic at Frank Brown Park. GCCC faces Darton (Albany, Ga.) at 1 p.m. in its second game.
News Herald Article

February 22, 2007
DOOLEY NAMED FCCAA PITCHER OF THE WEEK
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (February 21, 2007) - The Florida Community College Activities Association (FCCAA) has announced its Pitcher of the week for Softball for the week of February 12-18. Gulf Coast Community College's Sarah Dooley is this week's FCCAA Softball Pitcher of the Week. Dooley, a native of St. Louis, Mo., was 2-0 with a pair of shutouts, including a no-hitter, last week. Against Enterprise-Ozark, Dooley no-hit the Lady Weevils in Gulf Coast's 1-0 victory. Then, against Abraham Baldwin, she allowed only one hit and struck out seven in the Lady Commodores' 3-0 victory.

February 18, 2007
SMITH PACES LADY COMMODORE SWEEP
NEWS HERALD (Pat McCann) - Freshman outfielder Suzanne Smith went 6 for 6 as Gulf Coast swept Abraham-Baldwin 3-0 and 6-4 Saturday in junior college softball at Joe Tom King Field. Smith had three singles, three doubles and three RBIs in the doubleheader for the Lady Commodores, 8-1. Sarah Dooley pitched a one-hitter with seven strikeouts in the opener and is 5-0 on the season. Gulf Coast had only five hits, just two aside from Smith. Nichole Ward (Bethlehem) had a key two run single in the fourth inning, however, to break a scoreless deadlock. Smith led the way with a double and two RBIs in the second game in consecutive 3-for-3 performances. “She’s the freshman that we’ve looked to produce offensively for us and she had one of those days,” Gulf Coast coach Susan Painter said. Three walks. Amanda Byers’ two-run triple in the fourth rallied the Lady Commodores from a 3-2 deficit. Amanda Bailey added two hits and an RBI. Gulf Coast is idle until Friday when it hosts Chattanooga State at 1 p.m. and Wallace-Hanceville at 3 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday the Lady Commodores host the 15-school Beach Classic at Frank Brown Park. Games will start at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday.
News Herald Article

February 15, 2007
DOOLEY'S N0-HITTER HIGHLIGHSTS GC SWEEP
NEWS HERALD (Brad Milner) - Sarah Dooley tossed a no-hitter in the first game and the Lady Commodore bats came alive in the second, as Gulf Coast Community College swept a softball doubleheader from visiting Enterprise Ozark Community College, 1-0 and 8-0, on Wednesday at Joe Tom King Field. Dooley, a sophomore walked two and struck out three in the no-hitter. “You don’t see them that often,” said Gulf Coast coach Susan Painter. “It was nice to see early in the season on a cold evening.” Gulf Coast scored the only run of the first game on a basesloaded walk in the bottom of the fourth inning. Amanda Bailey singled to open the inning, went to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored when the next three batters walked. Saskia Kosterink forced the run home with her walk. Kosterink had two of Gulf Coast’s five hits in the first game. Bailey had one hit and walked twice. In the second game, Kosterink continued to hit well, with two doubles, a single and one RBI. Debby Connor had two hits, including a home run that landed on 23rd Street and was described as “monstrous” by Painter. Bailey also had two of the Commodores’ 12 hits. Brooke Ross was the winning pitcher, allowing three hits and three strikeouts in four innings. Dooley pitched the final two innings, allowing no hits and striking out four. The wins raised the Lady Commodores’ record to 6-1. They play a doubleheader against Abraham Baldwin from Tipton, Ga., at Joe Tom King Field on Saturday, with games at noon and 2 p.m.
News Herald Article

February 11, 2007
LADY COMMODORES TAKE TWO IN TRIPLE CROWN TOURNEY
NEWS HERALD (Pat McCann) - Sophomore right-hander Sarah Dooley earned two victories and Jennifer Monaghan delivered both gamewinning hits as Gulf Coast won two games and lost one Saturday in the Triple Crown Classic college softball tournament. The Lady Commodores (4-1) defeated Lake City 6-5 in eight innings, lost 2-0 to Coastal (Brunswick) Georgia and defeated Florida Community College-Jacksonville 3-2. Debby Connor had two doubles and an RBI and Monaghan knocked in the gamewinner against Lake City in the eighth. Dooley was the winning pitcher. Monaghan had three hits and Amanda Byers had two doubles and an RBI. The Lady Commodores were limited to five hits against Coastal Georgia and wasted a five-hitter by freshman pitcher Brooke Ross. “Offensively we didn’t adjust and didn’t put the ball in play,” Gulf Coast coach Susan Painter said of the loss. Gulf Coast had runners at second and third and no outs in the seventh inning and was unable to score. The Lady Commodores played what Painter called their top game thus far against FCC-J. Saskia Kosterink had a bunt single and Monaghan doubled her in for the winning run in the bottom of the fifth. Dooley went the distance with four strikeouts. Gulf Coast hosts Enterprise Wednesday at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
News Herald Article

February 4, 2007
GC ICES THOMAS
NEWS HERALD (Brad Milner) - The start of the spring softball season for Gulf Coast Community College began on a day more suited for ice fishing. But it could have been much worse. It could have been raining, much like prior forecasts had projected. Or it could have been even colder, although players, coaches and spectators would have a hard time believing that. While playing the season opener and stretching legs and arms after months of inactivity was important, even more critical was winning and gaining early experience. The Lady Commodores achieved both by sweeping visiting Thomas University 6-4, 5-4, Saturday afternoon at Joe Tom King Field. Gulf Coast, ranked No. 1 in the state, held on for the opening-game win and needed a comeback in Game 2 to open 2-0. “That was two good ballgames to start the season, especially with how cold it was,” Gulf Coast coach Susan Painter said. “You’d wish for a little more warmth and better weather, but that’s not anything we can control.” Painter said the weather provided her team with some adversity, but it didn’t have a major impact on the outcomes. The cold did pose some trouble to each team’s pitching staffs, but Gulf Coast pitchers received much of the praise for Saturday’s sweep. Sophomore Sarah Dooley picked up where she left off last season with the victory in Game 1. She had some control issues with three walks, but struck out five and scattered four hits. Three of the four runs against her were earned in a complete game win. Freshmen Brooke Ross gave up four earned runs on 10 hits with three strikeouts and no walks for her first career win in Game 2. Ross overcame a rough second inning in which she yielded three runs, forcing Gulf Coast to rally from a run down. “She did some good things,” Painter said of Ross. “You love to see a freshman pitch well, and you especially love to see them get their first win.” The Night Hawks (0-2) notched five hits in the second inning of Game 2, including four in a row, to move ahead 3-2. Ross quickly settled down, giving up one run the rest of the way while Gulf Coast’s offense responded with the help of leadoff hitter Saskia Kosterink. She doubled in Trinity Pollard (Rutherford) — courtesy running for catcher Valerie Pena — and Nichole Ward (Bethlehem) to give the Lady Commodores a 4-3 lead after four innings. Kosterink was 2 for 4 with two RBIs and a run scored in Game 2. She was 3 for 4 with a double and two runs in the opener. Former Gulf Coast pitcher Stacie David took the loss in Game 2 after yielding four runs, three earned, on six hits with three walks and two strikeouts. She was replaced by Kylie Berryman, who also pitched in the first game. Stacey Ward was 2 for 4 with a double and two runs and Candice Wimmer was 2 for 3 for Thomas in the second game. For Gulf Coast, Whitney Johnson had a solo home run in the fifth. Only Kosterink had multiple hits in both games. She was the offensive catalyst who Painter said the others must follow for the team to be successful.
News Herald Article

January 30, 2007
VETERANS LEAD THE WAY
NEWS HERALD (Brad Milner) - Based purely on roster numbers, the Gulf Coast softball team is young. Twelve of this season’s players are freshmen and eight are sophomores. Although the numbers tip toward inexperience, a closer look reveals a sophomore class filled with experience and record breakers who helped produce last season’s national runner-up finish. Two of the sophomores, pitcher Sarah Dooley and first baseman Debby Connor were named NJCAA All-Americans. A third, shortstop/outfielder Amanda Bailey was named a third-team All-American by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. Dooley set a school record with 32 victories as the Lady Commodores went 57-10. She was the workhorse of a staff that helped Gulf Coast to a third straight Panhandle Conference championship, a third state title and a secondplace finish at nationals for the second time in three seasons. Connor set season records for home runs (20) and RBIs (75) to go along with a .391 batting average. Bailey (Fort Walton Beach) had a .400 average, five home runs and 45 RBIs. They are joined by returners Saskia Kosterink, Ashley Andrews and Nichole Ward (Bethlehem) and transfers Jennifer Monaghan and Sarah Smith. There also are many talented freshmen entering the mix, and Susan Painter (584 career wins) is one of the most accomplished coaches in the state. Gulf Coast, ranked No. 1 in the first state poll, opens the season with a doubleheader Saturday against Thomas University at Joe Tom King Field.

Pitching: An area of concern last year — because of only having two pitchers — is one of optimism this season. The Lady Commodores lost 25-game winner Stacie David to graduation, but return with ace Dooley and three others who are expected to perform. Wetumpka, Ala., native Brooke Ross is the No. 2 pitcher behind Dooley. Ersy Pachecho of Venezuela will lend an arm for a spot start and in relief and Whitney Johnson of Brundidge, Ala., will pitch as well as play a reserve role in the infield. Ross had shoulder surgery in July. Painter isn’t worried, however, as she said Ross had an outstanding fall campaign. This is Painter’s deepest pitching staff in more than five years. She has high expectations for the group, should everyone remain healthy. “This gives us a lot of options and it keeps us from holding our breath hoping nothing goes wrong like last year,” Painter said. “Having plenty of arms will help us have that spark when we need it most.”

Offense: Gulf Coast had heavy losses at the plate, but Painter believes she has capable replacements to unleash consistent offense. Natalie Vogler (Mosley), Yusmary Perez, Autumn Hudson, Anadys Suarez, Kelyn Mendoza and Blythe Golden (Marianna) departed with a combined 40 homers and 259 RBIs. Each hit .319 or better. Gulf Coast reloads with Connor, who could become only the second player in school history to post back-toback seasons with double-digit home runs — Golden was the first in 2005 and 2006. Bailey and Kosterink (.364 average, four stolen bases, 29 runs scored) are expected to up their production, while Monaghan and Smith should provide immediate power. Monaghan had six home runs and 25 RBIs at Southeast Missouri. Smith stroked nine homers and added 44 RBIs at St. Gregory’s University in Oklahoma. Painter doesn’t expect this year’s team to post gaudy power numbers as in the past. But that doesn’t detract from the potential to score runs. “We have a lot of solid hitters on this team,” Painter said. “We’re not as deep as power goes, but that’s not how we want to have to win ballgames all the time anyway. “I think we’ll have more speed and we’ll be a lot more consistent at the plate.”

Defense: Gulf Coast must replace starters at second base, third base, left field, right field, and potentially the most important position, catcher. Golden was the unquestioned leader for Gulf Coast over the past two seasons. Her presence behind the plate, along with her offensive and defensive prowess will not be easily replaced. “That’s one of the most crucial positions for us and we’re still trying to build it up,” Painter said. Nikki Smith of Houma, La., is the frontrunner to start the season. Tallahassee native Valerie Pena will vie for time, but she has been slowed recently following a medical procedure. Andrews and Victoria McCall (Port St. Joe) lend depth. Connor is at first, Tate’s Amanda Byers takes over second and Monaghan will play third. The major change is at shortstop with Kosterink moving from center field to replace Bailey, who will start in right field and could still be used in the infield. Sarah Smith will battle Ward for time in center. Suzanne Smith is slated to start in left. Players providing depth in the outfield are Lauren McIlwain (Arnold), Trinity Pollard (Rutherford), Heather Ivey (Rutherford) and Kosterink, if needed. Ivey and Elizabeth Scott (Arnold) bolster the infield.
News Herald Article

January 25, 2007
NICOLE WALKER SIGNS WITH COMMODORES
NEWS HERALD (Brad Milner) - Two athletes from Alabama on Tuesday signed letters of intent to attend and play softball for Gulf Coast Community College next season. Nicole Walker, a utility player from Dothan, and Cassie Curran, a catcher from Rehobeth, will join a team that could have 12 returning sophomores. Walker, who signed at Gulf Coast, was a first-team all-state selection as a junior and honorable mention as a sophomore, while Curran, who signed at her high school, also played basketball and volleyball.

Nicole Walker recently participated in a signing ceremony here on the campus of Gulf Coast Community College. She was joined at the ceremony by family and friends. Coach Painter said of Walker, "she brings an energetic attitude to our team and we expect her to step right in and contribute".

January 11, 2007
DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH
NEWS HERALD (Brad Milner) - The familiar sounds and smells of spring wafted through the air Wednesday on a mild winter afternoon. Gulf Coast’s baseball and softball teams conducted first practices in preparation for season openers less than a month away. Rusty players were reintroduced to the basics following more than two months off the field. Two coaches dusted off their teaching manuals for another long campaign. At Joe Tom King Field, softball gloves were stretched out, along with pairs of legs as longtime mentor Susan Painter preached keeping in shape and avoiding injuries during preseason practices.
News Herald Article

November 8, 2006
GC ATHLETES MAKE COMMITMENTS
The first step to the next level is expected to begin today for several Gulf Coast Community College softball, baseball, and womens basketball players. In softball, shortstop Amanda Bailey, pitcher Sarah Dooley and outfielder Saskia Kosterink are expected to sign with Division I programs. In baseball, pitchers Devin Copley and Beau Pender, infielder Cory Trudell and outfielder/infielder Jordan Karcher, also are excited to sign with top four-year programs. In Womens Basketball, Shanea Cotton and Janinne Thomas will move on to four-year schools as well.
News Herald Article

September 1, 2006
LADY COMMODORES FALL SCHEDULE RELEASED
The Gulf Coast Lady Commodore Fall Softball Schedule is now posted. Click the Schedule link to print a copy of the fall schedule. Fall Practice began August 28th. The Commodores are the defending Conference and State Champions. They also were National Runner-up. Come out and support the Lady Commodores!

June 1, 2006
FOUR LADY COMMODORES MAKE ALL-AMERICAN
The season may be over, but the awards keep coming in. Four Gulf Coast softball players have earned NJCAA all-American status, including pitcher Sarah Dooley and outfielder Yusmary Perez on the first team. First baseman/designated player Debby Connor and catcher Blythe Golden (Marianna) received second-team nods.
News Herald Article

May 24, 2006
LADY COMMODORES STAY AT HALF-STAFF
Susan Painter realizes heavy turnover is the nature of junior college athletics. That’s why she’s always searching for talented players to keep Gulf Coast’s softball team at the top of state and national levels. The Lady Commodores lose 10 sophomores from this season’s national runner-up, but Painter reloaded with a class of 12 incoming freshmen, with a few more likely to be signed in the weeks to come.
News Herald Article

May 21, 2006
LADY COMMODORES NATIONAL RUNNER-UP
Gulf Coast finished as national runner-up for the third time, falling in its third game on Saturday in the NJCAA Division I softball tournament. The Lady Commodores staved off elimination with wins over Chattanooga (Tenn.) State and Indian River, but they fell in the championship to Pima (Ariz.) for the second time in three years. Gulf Coast needed a win against Pima to force a second and deciding championship game.
News Herald Article

May 8, 2006
STATE CHAMPIONS!
The memories of a year ago were erased with one win. Gulf Coast defeated Indian River 2-0 on Sunday at the Osceola Softball Complex to claim the school’s third state softball championship. The title came one season after the Lady Commodores (52-8) were eliminated in the FCCAA state/NJCAA Gulf District tournament. “We hated how we finished last year,” Lady Commodores Coach Susan Painter said. “We wanted these sophomores to go out with a better ending this season. They all remembered what happened. They realized to accomplish (a better ending) they have to win it.”
News Herald Article

May 8, 2006
LADY COMMODORES SELECTED ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM
State softball champion Gulf Coast led the way with six players selected to the all-Gulf District tournament team, and four Lady Commodores were named to the overall all-tournament squad. Teams were selected for the Gulf and Atlantic district tournaments. The best players from each field were selected all-tournament. Tournament MVP Sarah Dooley was joined by fellow Lady Commodores Natalie Vogler (Mosley), Kelyn Mendoza and Saskia Kosterink on the all-tournament squad. Vogler, Kosterink, Mendoza, Dooley, Blythe Golden (Marianna) and Stacie David made the Gulf District team.
News Herald Article

May 7, 2006
LADY COMMODORES ONE VICTORY FROM TITLE
A place Gulf Coast seemed miles away from last season is now just a game away. The Lady Commodores are one win from clinching a berth in the NJCAA national softball tournament after defeating Chipola 9-1 in five innings in the FCCAA state/NJCAA Gulf District winners’ bracket final Saturday at the Osceola County Softball Complex. Chipola eliminated Tallahassee 5-1 in the losers’ bracket final to advance to today’s district title game against Gulf Coast. The first game is at 9 a.m. CDT, with a rematch immediately following should Gulf Coast lose. Chipola must win two straight games against Gulf Coast to earn a national berth.
News Herald Article

May 6, 2006
LADY COMMODORES ADVANCE AT STATE TOURNEY
Chipola and Gulf Coast will play today in the FCCAA state/NJCAA Gulf District tournament winners’ bracket championship. Chipola advanced with a 6-0 win over Pasco-Hernando and a 2-1 victory over St. Petersburg on Friday at the Osceola County Softball Complex. Gulf Coast edged South Florida 3-1 and outlasted Manatee 1-0 in 12 innings to move on. Gulf Coast’s Saskia Kosterink hit her first home run of the season with one out in the bottom of the 12th against Manatee. Gulf Coast coach Susan Painter was unsure if the ball was tipped by the left fielder or hit the top of the wall. Either way, it went over.
News Herald Article