You get seven commencement tickets. Make them count. OPINIONS Pg. 6
THE MARLIN CHRONICLE THURSDAY 4.21.16 || MARLINCHRONICLE.VWC.EDU ||
VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
LIGHTING THE WORLD
ON FIRE VWC Sports Information| Courtesy Senior softball player Courtney Bogan at bat in the eighth-annual Strike Out Cancer event held at Marlins Field. The players wore special yellow uniforms honoring Administrative Assistant to the President Jodi Bryant.
MARLINS SOFTBALL REACHES HIGHEST RANKING IN SCHOOL HISTORY BY HAYLEY HEATH hrheath@vwc.edu
& SAMANTHA SMALL stsmall@vwc.edu
The Virginia Wesleyan College women’s softball team is taking its success to a new level this year, ranking fourth in the country and boasting a 31-5 record. With their rank being the highest in the school’s history, the Marlins look to continue their momentum as the postseason nears. Coach Brandon Elliott affords the team’s success to its new, looser playing style. Both freshmen and veteran players are hoisting the team to new heights. “Our freshman, they’ve done a really good job of understanding that this is a top-ten program and we’re gonna make the best decision we can on playing time to be most successful. It’s about ‘team’ and it’s about just preparing to do your job, whatever your job is,” Elliott said. First-year pitcher Kandis Kresinske threw her second individual no-hitter in a 4-0 win over Emory & Henry College in game two of the team’s eighth annual Strike Out Cancer event. The Marlins run-ruled the Wasps in an 8-0 victory in game one of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) doubleheader. Kresinske earned her fourth ODAC Pitcher of the Week honor of the year Monday, April 11. “Our pitching staff as a whole has been lights out every
game they’ve pitched and they’ve kept us in a lot of ball games we’ve struggled in,” Elliott said. “Mary and Kandis have, I would say, if anybody’s been catalyst, the most consistent and doing their jobs every day, it’s been those two.”
“I expect to win. I think if you set your expectation lower than that, then you’re not Marlins Softball.” ALANA PETERS, SOPHOMORE RELIEF PITCHER Veteran outfielder Courtney Bogan said the team’s success is largely due to the freshman’s energy. “[Kresinske] is always cheering for her teammates even when she is not playing and has so much belief within each and every one of us,” Bogan said. “She is a big role within our program with keeping us positive and energized and her presence on the field makes us all more positive and excited to play.” Offensively, the team came together at different points
in the year to ensure its success. Bogan broke an ODAC and VWC record for stolen bases in a season previously held by current Marlin senior Kayla Malkos. She also broke the career record held previously by Marlin alumna Tori Higginbotham. Thanks to Bogan, the record number of steals in a season, once set at 52 in 2014, is now climbing past 60. “We haven’t all hit well at the same time and we haven’t all stunk at the same time,” Elliott said. “Early in the year, the top lot of the line-up was lighting the world on fire.” Impact players such as Cassetty Howerin, Blake Henderson and Liz Bailey also carried offensive production. “Howerin can change game in one swing. But with that being said, teams are figuring that out and they are pitching around her, so Blake Henderson made that hurt,” Elliott said. Virginia Wesleyan Women’s Softball is known as a competitive, top-notch program. Elliott said the key to the continuation of success is two-fold. “I think the the number one thing is maintaining this kind of the culture in the program—being competitive, staying together and developing players,” he said. “We’ve been fortunate, obviously, to get some very talented players to decide that Virginia Wesleyan is where they wanted to be.”
SEE SPORTS Pg. 7
Kids Fundango Festival BY JUSTIN SMITH jrsmith2@vwc.edu
Josh Currier’s recordbreaking season helps Men’s Lacrosse team as it aims for ODAC tournament page 7
Hundreds of kids will flood the Virginia Wesleyan College campus in the upcoming fall when the college hosts the Kids Fundango Festival sponsored by the child sexual abuse prevention organization, Stop Abuse. With the help of Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Joanne Renn, a dedicated member of the organization and advocate for its cause, the Kids Fundango Festival will bring joy to kids and awareness to everyone. “It’s going to be a day of pure joy and hands-on fun,” Executive Director of Stop Abuse Regina Marscheider said.
The Kids Fundango Festival is the signature fundraiser for Stop Abuse, according to Marscheider. The festival provides a safe, fun environment for children through sponsorships with the Virginia Beach community. On Oct. 22, 2016 Virginia Wesleyan will host this year’s Kids Fundango Festival, making it Stop Abuse’s twelfth festival, according to Renn. The festival will include games, music, interactive displays, inspirational and instructive athletic training
SEE FUNDANGO Pg. 2
Funds being raised for two full-time positions needed due to growth in Marlin Ministries page 3 Pub n’ Club brings students together for drinks, karaoke, deejayed music and dancing page 10
Infographic by Ashlei Gates
Sources: Stop Abuse and Virginia Department of Social Services/CPS, 2013/14