Columbus, GA – The Miles College Lady Bears won their first softball championship as they took home the 2009 SIAC Softball Championship in Columbus, Georgia. The team for three consecutive years has squared off against the Lady Rams of Albany State for the title, and the third time turned out to be the charm for Miles. Miles had played the bridesmaid role for the past two years and with the win, the Lady Bears improve to 24-19-1 and earned the SIAC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Softball Regional’s on May 8-9.

The Lady Bears scored all of their runs in the first inning. The big blow came thanks to the bat of Miles’ catcher Valerie Pena, who blasted a three run shot over the left field fence. After that, the rest was left up to Lady Bear pitcher Kayla Bowmaster. Bowmaster gave up seven hits, but allowed only one run.

 

Albany State (35-28) scored its only run in the top of the sixth when Ta’Shelya Bynum scored on an error.

 

Thanks to Bowmaster’s work on the mound during the tournament, Kayla was named SIAC Tournament MVP and Tournament Outstanding Pitcher. Miles’ head coach (Patrick Peasant) was named Outstanding Tournament Coach.

 

Outfielder and twin sisters Teresa and Talisa Erskine, along with shortstop Jay Owens also made the SIAC All Tournament Team.

 

 

 

Ashley Brooks – Clark Atlanta University

Krystal Hughes – Fort Valley State University

Ronkeya Garner – Fort Valley State University

LaKeika Pruitt – Clark Atlanta University

Deanna Birdsong – Albany State University

Ashley Johnson – Albany State University

Kandis Tate – Albany State University