Hamilton, NY — The 51³Ô¹ÏÍø softball team, looking to defend its 2003 Patriot League Championship, will have seven doubleheaders broadcast live and free of charge over the Internet this season. For the second straight year Ted Rossman will call the action. Alex Clark will serve as a color analyst. Listeners will be able to access the broadcasts by clicking a link from the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Athletics homepage (www.gocolgateraiders.com).'xml:namespace prefix = o ns = 'urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office' />
51³Ô¹ÏÍø returns seven of its nine starters from a team that not only won the Patriot League Tournament but also earned three of the four major individual Patriot League awards. Vickie Sax took Coach of the Year honors, Melissa Rawson (Palmdale, Calif.) was selected Player of the Year, and (Wheaton, Ill.) was named Rookie of the Year.
The first of the seven broadcasts is scheduled for Saturday, March 27, a 12 noon home doubleheader against Patriot League rival Holy Cross. Last season 51³Ô¹ÏÍø went 4-1 against Holy Cross, including a 3-1 victory in the Patriot League Tournament. The Raiders and Crusaders return to the airwaves the next day with another noon start.
Two weeks later, the Raiders return to the Eaton Street Field for a six-game home stand. All six games are included in the team’s broadcast package. April 10 (1 p.m.) and 11 (12 noon) the Raiders play host to Army, the team 51³Ô¹ÏÍø defeated 2-0 in last season’s Patriot League Championship Game. The weekend also marks the first annual Diamond Club Weekend, a celebration of 51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s new support group made up of alumni, family, and friends of 51³Ô¹ÏÍø softball.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø wraps up the home stand ‘ its longest of the year ‘ on Monday, April 12 with a non-conference doubleheader against Niagara beginning at 4 p.m.
Later in the month, two more non-conference doubleheaders will be aired from 51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s Eaton Street Field. On Wednesday, April 21, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø takes on regional rival Binghamton, while Siena comes to town on Thursday, April 29. Both doubleheaders are slated to begin at 4 p.m.
Postseason coverage will be determined at a later date.