Lori Mayhew wins 400th game after WNE posts 4-2 victory over Wisconsin-Stevens Point
CLERMONT, Fla.. – There have been many successful coaches in the distinguished history of Western New England athletics, but no one has won 400 games … until Monday.
Softball coach Lori Mayhew accomplished that impressive milestone after her Golden Bears defeated Wisconsin-Stevens Point 4-2 in the first game of a doubleheader at the National Training Center.
“It was a nice come from behind,” said Mayhew who has a 400-203-2 record in 16 seasons for an impressive 66.3 winning percentage.
“I’ve been fortunate to have some outstanding players during my tenure as head coach. My success has been a direct connection to the talent and dedication of my players and staff,” she stated.
A native of nearby Westfield, Mayhew entered the 2012 season two wins shy of the 400 mark, but had to wait until the fifth game to etch her name in the Western New England record book.
The Golden Bears made their popular coach sweat it out a little more in the near 90-degree temperature before tying the game with a pair of runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh.
Trailing 2-0, senior catcher Rachel Wyrwa tripled with one out in the sixth. Freshman first baseman Grace Kucharski then drove in freshman pinch-runner Lori Pelerski with a single. Sophomore shortstop Jeana Longo came through with a clutch two-out single to drive in senior pinch-runner Laura Madaio.
In the seventh, the Golden Bears took advantage of two errors and a run-scoring infield single by senior designated player Sarah Lempicki to push across the deciding runs.
Senior Alyssa Obin had a complete game performance allowing only five hits with two walks and six strikeouts.
Mayhew has a young team this spring with seven sophomores and eight freshmen on the 23-player roster. She knows the Golden Bears need to find more consistency following a 9-1, five-inning loss against Kean (NJ) in the second game of the doubleheader tonight that dropped their record to 2-4.
Mayhew not only ranks as one of Western New England’s best coaches, she also is among the school’s top student-athletes.
A 1995 graduate of Western New England, Mayhew was a four-year starter at third base finishing with a school-record .403 batting average. She hit .485 her senior season despite a nagging back injury that later required surgery.
Mayhew was inducted into the school’s Downes Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001, becoming the first softball player to enter the Hall named in honor of Western New England coaching legend Bill Downes.
