Dartmouth’s singing the blues

Tony Altobelli

I have the feeling even the parents of Katie and Ryan Achterberg

couldn’t have dreamed of a better weekend at Princeton University.

As told last week, Katie was scheduled to sing the National Anthem before

the start of the Ivy League Championships between the Tigers and

Dartmouth.

Not only did she perform it, she “nailed it,” according to her biggest

fan, her father, Denny Achterberg, in front of over 2,000 fans.

Sure enough, her brother, Ryan, not to be outdone by his little sister,

proceeded to help the Tigers sweep Dartmouth en route to the Ivy League

championship.

Ryan made the most of his two hits in the series. In Game 1, he went 1

for 5 with an RBI in the Tigers’ 5-2 win.

In Game 2, he cued a shot just over the second baseman’s head, driving in

two runs and giving the Tigers a 4-0 lead. They would hold on and win,

4-3.

With the title, the Tigers won an automatic NCAA Tournament bid and could

play at Cal State Fullerton in the Regionals.

I’m thinking of becoming Katie’s manager for her upcoming singing career.

I’ll make the T-shirts for the upcoming World Tour. It’s not too long

before others jump on the Princeton bandwagon.

Speaking of jumping on a bandwagon....

Vanguard University women’s basketball coach Russ Davis, already counting

down the seconds until the upcoming hoops season gets underway, is

smiling even wider with the signing of two additional players.

Keep in mind, the Lions finished last season ranked No. 10 in the country

by the NAIA and will have the entire team returning for next season.

Joining the Lions will be sophomore to-be Jeri Costello and junior to-be

Erin Edmiston.

Costello played her freshman season at Long Beach State last year

following a stellar career at Brea Olinda High, where she helped the Lady

Wildcats win three straight state championships.

“She just might be the best player we’ve ever had come into this

program,” Davis said. “She can play either the one, two or position for

us. With our depth, we’re just gonna have to see what happens, but she’ll

be out there somewhere.”

Another new Lion next year will be Saddleback College transfer Erin

Edmiston.

As a Gaucho, Edmiston was an All-Orange Empire Conference selection,

averaging 19.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game.

Her strong play led her to the JC All-Star Game last year. “She’s another

very talented player,” Davis said. “This is by far the best talent we’ve

ever had here. We have a chance to win a couple of games around here.”

Not to end the column on a bitter note, but I’m just wondering why Orange

Coast College sophomore pitcher Drew Parkin was left off the All-Orange

Empire Conference team.

All Parkin did was, well, everything for the Pirates on the mound. He had

nine saves, threw three complete games, and posted a 4-3 record with a

3.67 ERA, which is like 0.39 ERA anywhere else but in the run-happy

community college level.

On a team where the top pitchers from last year could not get the job

done, Parkin did everything but announce the games and play the music

between innings.

To be honest, there are guys who made the All-OEC team with ERAs higher

than some D-league slo-pitch softball pitchers.

But because he wasn’t starting pitcher all year, nor a relief pitcher all

year, Parkin didn’t really fall into one particular category, thereby not

allowing him to get a spot in either category, which stinks more than I

care to describe.

So by all accounts, if Parkin had stayed in the bullpen all year, he

probably would have made All-OEC. But Parkin was needed in the starting

rotation because nobody else was doing the job. He stepped in and carried

the entire rotation on his right arm and for that, he should be given a

Purple Heart.

According to the selections, there were at least nine pitchers that

pitched better than Drew Parkin this year. Um....no.