Galicinao and Del Calvo help softball to first Ivy title since 1996

For the first time in six years the softball team has won the Ivy League title. Maybe it is the weakness of the Ivy League this year, or possibly it is the strong core of freshman who have helped the Tigers reach the top of the Ivy League. Maybe. What is certain, however, is that the Tigers' success can mostly be attributed to two key players — senior Brie Galicinao and sophomore Kristen Del Calvo.

With a sweep of Yale and Brown last weekend to clinch the title, the team's heroes were in their standard, that is to say impressive, form. Galicinao had another classic weekend for herself, winning two games on the mound, and leading her team at the plate. Del Calvo also made her presence felt at the plate and helped carry the Tigers (29-15 overall, 13-1 Ivy League) to four wins.

This has become typical for these players. Del Calvo and Galicinao are on top of every offensive category for both the team and for the Ivy League. While these Tigers have proven strong enough to carry their team to 13 Ivy League wins, it is the statistics that really show why these two players are Princeton's reason for the Ivy League title.

As the defending Ivy League Pitcher and Player of the Year, Galicinao has more then lived up to her reputation. What makes Galicinao such a dominant player is that she is both the best pitcher and the best hitter in the league. In the top five of every pitching and hitting category, Galicinao has certainly proven that last year was not a fluke.

As the Tigers' leadoff batter, Galicinao has the daunting task of facing a pitcher without seeing any of her pitches before hand. But Galicinao not only does a great job of letting the rest of her team see how the opposition is pitching, she also achieves the most important job of a lead off hitter — she gets on base.

Starting every one of the Tigers' games this year, she is second on the team in batting average, hitting .345, and is second on the team in total hits with 50. Those 50 hits also rank her second in the Ivy League. She is second in the league in runs scored (32), she leads the league in doubles (13), and she is fourth in the league for total bases (79). All together, Galicinao is a league leader in four out of nine offensive categories.

But her league success does not stop at the plate. Galicinao is also the best pitcher in the league. With an ERA of 1.45, she leads the Ivies with 15 wins and an astounding 138 strikeouts. The closest pitcher to her in that category is Cornell's Sarah Sterman, who has 93 strikeouts. While Galicinao is virtually unhitable, what makes her pitching more special is her ability to end an inning when the opposing team has runners in scoring position.

But even Galicinao cannot win every game by herself. First-basemen Kristin Del Calvo is the power hitter in the line-up, who also manages to lead the team in batting average and almost every other offensive category.

Del Calvo's confidence is obvious just by watching her take one at bat. Many hitters may try to use the fast infield and short bases to their advantage and just slap at the ball, but Del Calvo is the exact opposite. Hitting with a McGwiresque batting stance, she digs her cleats deep into the batters box and challenges the pitcher every time. Batting .375, she also leads the team in hits (51), home runs (12), RBI (41), and total bases (97). Her 12 homeruns are five more than any Tiger softball player has ever hit in one season.

But she does not just lead the team in the categories — none of her teammates are even close in most of them. Del Calvo has almost twice as many homers as any other teammate, and she has 11 more RBI than Galicinao, who ranks second on the team with 30.

More than just the team leader in batting average and home run tally, Del Calvo is always the batter who gets the crucial RBI, a task she has performed all season.

Del Calvo also plays a major role in the infield. As the starting first baseman, she has a fielding percentage of .975.

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The Tigers are not done this season and they have plenty more games to fully prove their dominance. But if anything can be counted on for the rest of the year, its Galicinao and Del Calvo.