Resident campers will stay overnight in the residence halls, and meals will be provided by the university’s Dining Services. Student ambassadors, also known as summer Conference Assistants (CAs), will be on duty to assist campers during their stay.

Stetson Athletic Summer Camps include:

Women’s Basketball:

Lil’ Hatters will learn to dribble, pass, shoot, defend and be a part of a team. Games, races and lots of one-on-one attention will ensure a fun time. High school players are invited to join Coach Lynn Bria, her staff, and Hatter players as they conduct a camp geared toward individual instruction and overall competition. Hatter Shootout, a team event, consists of a fun and intense environment designed to challenge each team to compete as a group, as well as receive instruction. For more information, contact Assistant Basketball Coach Jenna Burkett at (386) 822-8119, jburkett@stetson.edu or online at Women’s Basketball Summer Camps – 2013. Register for Women’s Basketball Summer Camps 2013 online.

• Ages:   2^nd  – 12^th grades (girls only)
• June 6 – 7
• June 21 – 22
• June 22 – 23

• Lil’ Hatters Day Camp
  • Cost:    $100 (includes $50 deposit)
  • Time:   9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Hatter Elite Camp
  • Cost:    Resident – $125 (includes $50 deposit)
  •               Commuter – $100 (includes $50 deposit)
  • Time:   11 a.m.
• Hatter Shootout
• Cost:    $350 (per team)

Men’s Soccer:

The summer soccer camps will focus on beginner and intermediate technical skills including passing, dribbling, shooting and more. For more information about Soccer Summer Camp, contact Assistant Soccer Coach, Tony McManus at (386) 822-7014, amcmanus@stetson.edu or online at Stetson Men’s Soccer Camp, with information about the Youth Academy. Register online for Stetson’s Soccer Youth Academy, or for Stetson College ID Camp.

• Ages:   6 – 14 (open to boys & girls)
• Dates:  June 17 – 20
• Lil’ Hatters
  • Cost: $85
  • Time: 9 a.m. to  noon
• Youth Academy
  • Cost: $120
  • Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• College ID Camp (boys – high school ages only)
  • June 23-26
  • Cost: $505
  • Check-in starts 5 p.m. June 23

Women’s Soccer:

The summer soccer camp will expose players to the standards and styles of coaching, and the expectations of players at Stetson. Campers will center on becoming technically cleaner, playing and keeping possession in tight spaces and more. Coach Khettry will also host a presentation geared to educate players (and family members) on what it takes to be a college soccer player. For more information about Soccer Summer Camp, contact Head Soccer Coach, Manoj Khettry at (386) 822-8139, mkhettry@stetson.edu or online at Women’s Soccer Spring ID Camp.

• Prospect ID Camp
  • Ages: 13 – 19 (girls only)
  • Date: June 16
  • (Limited to 60 Field Players, 8 Goalkeepers)
  • Cost: $125
  • Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Residential Camp
  • Ages: 12-18
  • Dates: July 18-21
  • (Limited to 100 Field Players, 12 Goalkeepers)
  • Cost:    Resident – $545
  • Commuter – $500

• Registration begins July 18 at 2 p.m.

Tennis:

The goal of summer tennis camps is for each camper to improve in the fundamentals of the game of tennis, to develop sportsmanship skills and to have fun in a supportive environment. For more information about Tennis Summer Camp, contact Camp Director, Christophe Noblet at (386) 822-8145, cnoblet@stetson.edu or visit Stetson Tennis Camps Summer 2013 online. Register online for Stetson Tennis Summer Camps 2013.

• Ages:   5 – 18 (Coed)
• Dates:  First Session: June 10 – 14
• Second Session: June 17 – 21 (Both sessions will offer two of the following options)
• Lil’ Hatters – “Slower balls, smaller courts, more fun.”
• Cost: $145
• Time:   Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. to noon

• Elite Hatters – “Train like a champion.”
  • Cost: $250
  • Time:   Monday – Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Friday from 9 a.m. to noon

Volleyball:

Stetson Volleyball Camps are designed to give campers the opportunity to experience a NCAA Division-I training environment. This camp will help reach future goals, whether it’s making a high school team or playing at the highest level. For more information about Volleyball Summer Camp, contact Coach Meghan Bryant at (386) 738-6681, mbryant@stetson.edu or visit Stetson Volleyball Summer Camps online. Register for Stetson Volleyball Summer Camps online.

• Ages:   12 – 18 (Coed)
• Dates:  Aug. 1 – Sand Camp
• Aug. 2 – High School All-Skills Clinic (High School Ages Only)
• Aug. 3 – Specialty Clinic
• Aug. 4 – All-Skills Clinic

• Cost: $100 (For each camp and clinic)
• Time:   9 a.m.  – 5 p.m.

Stetson University offers the camps and clinics listed above, but does not limit the selection of those sports solely based upon what is seen. For a complete listing of athletic camps offered by the university, please visit gohatters.com.

NCAA bylaws 13.12.13: Stetson camps/clinics are open to any and all entrants (limited only by number, age, grade level and/or gender).

by Kim Charles

But what would happen if your life was inhibited because one of them didn’t function to full capacity? What would happen if your one leg needed to be periodically upgraded, similar to computer hardware, as you got older?

Well that’s precisely the challenge Tommy Scheffer of Deltona, Fla. (pictured right) faces each day.

Tommy was born with a disformity which caused his left leg to be shorter, resulting in the amputation of his leg. Tommy has courageously made the very best of a difficult situation. While this challenge may have defeated other children, it, instead, focused Tommy and he decided that he would play the sport he loved – baseball.

Now to many, the thought of playing baseball when you cannot run well seems quite futile. But Tommy did join the local team and has become an excellent hitter. And while he cannot run the bases at top speed, he still enjoys the sport. Yet to accomplish his dream of running the bases similar to other athletes, Tommy would need a new prosthetic leg and foot.

While attending one of Tommy’s baseball games with her son, who wanted to cheer Tommy on, Serena Harrison of Deltona, Fla. became aware of Tommy and his challenges. She took a special interest in Tommy’s needs and after careful consideration and conversations with Tommy’s mother, Mandy, Harrison decided, in the fall of 2011, to develop The Tommy Fund, a non-profit foundation which raised funds specifically to acquire a new leg and foot for Tommy at this time in his life.

As a child grows, a new prosthetic device is necessary and in addition to custom fabrication, fitting and revising.  A new limb can cost tens of thousands of dollars for the device itself and all the necessary medical bills. As a person grows and/or their body changes (weight gain/loss, activity level changes, etc.), they will have to start the process all over again.

From afar, Dr. Michele Skelton, Associate Professor, Department of Integrative Health Science at Stetson University in DeLand, Fla., (pictured, center) marveled at Harrison’s time, effort and personal expense to begin this fund. Harrison and Skelton’s children attended the same school and played in the steel drum band together.

With a passion to raise enough money for Tommy, Harrison held fundraisers around town, for what would be known as The Tommy Fund, including music performed by the members of the children’s steel drum band, called The Panheads, in Artisan Alley in DeLand.

Through further conversations, Dr. Skelton decided to contact one of her former students, Rachel Friddle of Honea Path, S.C. (pictured left, taking measurements for Tommy’s prosthetic leg), who received her 2004 degree in Integrative Health Science at Stetson University. Rachel later completed a certificate post graduate program at Northwestern University’s Medical School of Chicago in Orthotics and Prosthetics in 2005.

Upon graduation, Friddle completed her residencies and worked in a private practice in Nashville, Tenn. for five years. She later joined her family’s business, Friddle Orthopedic Appliances, which was started by her great grandfather at Shriner’s Hospital in Greenville, So. Carolina. Now run by her father, a small part of the company is dedicated to central fabrication, which makes orthotics (braces) and prosthetics (artificial limbs).

“Rachel was amazing.  When I first met her, she was self-motivated, knew what field she wanted to study and quickly espoused Stetson’s desire for students to become advocates and community leaders,” said Dr. Skelton of Friddle’s generosity and leadership in helping Tommy.

Through her contacts in the industry, Friddle reached out to Chris Doerger, PT, CP, and clinical educator for Ossur Manufacturing in Orlando, which donated a foot for Tommy.  And once all the donations were acquired, Friddle, Doerger, Skelton, Harrison and Tommy all converged in Skelton’s office at Stetson University to measure Tommy for his new leg and foot.

With Friddle’s work to design and donate the perfect fabrication for the socket design (the portion of the leg that fits on Tommy around his knee and up his thigh), the help of Doerger with choosing the appropriate running foot, and the team at Hanger, Inc., who help Tommy with continual follow ups and adjustments, Tommy is now testing his new limb to insure its proper fitting.

Since each new socket is custom and intimately designed for each patient, a trial period is needed to see if any sores will build or skin breakdown will occur and, if so, adjustments are needed.

But ultimately, Tommy’s goal of effectively running the bases may not be too far off. While he still has more physical therapy to increase the strength of his hips, he and his family are grateful for the generosity of so many people to make his dream come true.  Tommy believes he will reach home plate in the not-too-distant future.

By Mary M. McCambridge

“Coach Alexander informed me on Friday that he was resigning to take a position at another school,” Altier said. “It is certainly a disappointment to be in the market for a basketball coach this time of year. We had hoped he would be as dedicated to taking our men’s basketball program back to the top of the Atlantic Sun Conference as our University is dedicated to seeing it return to that level.

“We were excited to watch the team progress over the last two years, but the process of building the program has just begun. This will be no more than a bump in the road for the program moving forward.”

In his two seasons leading the Hatters men’s basketball program, Alexander posted a 24-36 overall record, including a 17-19 record in Atlantic Sun Conference play. Stetson placed two players – Adam Pegg and Chris Perez – on the All-Conference first and second teams this past year.

“I’m making this move with mixed emotions because there are so many people at Stetson I hate to disappoint, most notably our returning players and signees, because they are the face of the program,” Alexander said.

“I’m so grateful to [Stetson President] Dr. Wendy Libby and Jeff Altier for the opportunity they provided me. We worked hard to represent them well and hope they are pleased with the recent progress made. The changes may induce a temporary setback, but Stetson is in good hands and headed for great things.”

Alexander leaves a Stetson team that will return five letter winners, including two starters, from the 2012-13 season. That core group will be joined next year by two players who redshirted last year as well as five players who have committed to join the program this fall.

A native of Nashville, Alexander made the decision to return home and take the reins of his former school’s rival. After playing at Belmont University for four years, Alexander was an assistant coach there for 16 seasons.

“I am determined to move quickly to find a coach who will be dedicated to returning Stetson men’s basketball to its proper place,” Altier said. “We will move aggressively to find a new coach who will lead our program with character and passion, as well as a commitment to this fine university and its student-athletes.

“I am confident we will find the right person to lead us into the future.” For this story and all Hatter sports, go to gohatters.com.

Sophomore Darby McCormick had a two run single and scored the eventual winning run for Stetson on Sunday. Courtesy: David S. Williams

Stetson completed its first series sweep of the season on Sunday with an 7-6 victory over Northern Kentucky, but getting the sweep was anything but easy.

The Hatters (26-26, 15-9) got a sacrifice fly off the bat of Garrett Russini in the seventh inning and then held their collective breaths in the ninth as freshman Tyler Warmoth (5-2) loaded the bases by hitting two batters before getting the final out of the game on a fly ball.

NKU falls to 8-43 on the year overall and 3-21 in Atlantic Sun Conference play. The Norse are now 4-15 on the year in one-run games, a record that includes eight one-run losses during their current 12-game losing streak.

The day started for Stetson with senior Chad Rood on the mound and, after a perfect first inning, he had some bad luck.

“We handed Chad the ball and told him to go for as long as he could,” Stetson coach Pete Dunn said. “We needed to turn that double play for him in the fourth, and we couldn’t do it. That has been a bugaboo for us all year, and we aren’t going to win the tournament if we can’t turn a double play.”

Rood allowed two runs in the second, third and fourth innings while only allowing two hard-hit balls during those three frames. Brett Cisper’s two-run double in the second came after a pair of slow-rolling infield hits and a bloop off the end of the bat loaded the bases.

In the third, two more bloop hits set the stage for a Brad Clement RBI double. The two runs in the fourth came after the Hatters were unable to turn what would have been an inning-ending double play.

“After all of that in the fourth, Joe Dye came in and threw one pitch to get the double play to end the inning,” Dunn said. “But then they returned the favor in the bottom of the inning to prevent us from getting a run in after Kevin Fagan led off with a triple.”

The Hatters got off to a good start offensively, scoring five times in the second inning to chase NKU starter Matt Jefferson. Stetson had seven of its 12 hits in that inning. K’shawn Smith and Darby McCormick had the big blows in the frame, both delivering two-run singles.

Stetson added a run in the third when Carlos Garmendia followed a two-out double by Tyler Bocock with a run-scoring single off NKU reliever Blake Bagshaw.

After the Norse tied the game in the fourth, the game remained tied at 6-6 until the seventh inning when McCormick led off with a single off Brett Loeding (2-7), moved up on a walk to Patrick Mazeika and a sacrifice bunt by James Rasmussen. Russini followed with a fly ball to medium depth left field, and McCormick slid home ahead of the throw froom Quint Heady.

Warmoth worked the final three innings for the Hatters to get the win. He had a hard time closing out the Norse in the ninth after Cody Kuzniczci led off with a single and then Warmoth hit Brandon Wood and Cisper on consecutive two out pitches to load the bases.

“Sometimes, when that adrenaline gets to pumping, you try to do a little too much,” Dunn said of Warmoth. “He was trying to throw the ball too hard and, when he does that, his arm drags through. He was able to get it back to get the out when he needed it.”

For the second straight game, the Hatters got offensive production up and down the lineup. Eight of the nine guys in the starting lineup had at least

“This might not have been the most artistic game, and it certainly wasn’t the way we drew it up, but a W is a W,” Dunn said. “We have made a lot of changes and had a lot of different looks to the lineup in this series and, for the most part, the guys stepped up.”

The Hatters got two hits each in the game from McCormick, Bocock and Smith, who finished the week batting .248 on the year, up 72 points after hitting .550 for the week with three doubles, five runs scored and seven runs driven in.

NKU got three hits from Kuzniczci and two each from Bradley Vanderglas, Clement and Caleb Lonkard.

With a streak of six straight conference series wins in their pocket, the Hatters will go into the final week of the season with a chance to earn at least a share of the regular season league title. The Hatters are alone in fourth place, two games behind league leading Mercer, and just one behind North Florida and Florida Gulf Coast, who are tied for second.

The Hatters will close the season against the Eagles, a team that swept Stetson in the final series of 2012.

“After losing the first two series of the season, what kind of odds could you have gotten against us winning the next six series?” Dunn said. “We have still got a big one in front of us and we need to make it seven. To win six straight series is awfully impressive, especially with this club, knowing where we were when we started it. The guys have really persevered on the weekend.

“We still have one series left, and it is the biggest one of the year.”

The series at Florida Gulf Coast will start on Thursday night in Ft. Myers. The first pitch from Swanson Stadium is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

10.       Q – When do I need to be at Edmunds Center?

A – That depends on whether you are a graduate or a guest. Grads go to the Hollis Center. Guests go to Edmunds Center. The doors to the Edmunds Center will open one hour prior to each ceremony. The College of Arts and Sciences ceremony starts at 9 a.m., so doors will open at 8 a.m. The ceremony for the Schools of Business Administration and Music begins at 2 pm., so doors will open at 1 p.m. Guests are encouraged to arrive as early as possible.

9.         Q – Where do graduates get their honor cords?

A – The cords representing any of the three Latin honors—Cum Laude; Magna Cum Laude; Summa Cum Laude—will be pre-set on your assigned seat in Hollis Center. Other cords representing various organizations, will have been distributed before May 11. Confused about what cord represents what? Information will be in the Commencement printed program.

8.         Q – For Commencement guests with disabilities, what is the procedure for reserving floor seating?

A – Edmunds Center is fully accessible to all guests with seating available both on ground level and in permanent bleachers. Persons with disabilities can pick up a priority floor seating pass at the tents located at the north and south entrances of Edmunds Center. Ushers will be available to guide guests to the priority floor seating area in Edmunds Center.

7.         Q – What is the procedure for dropping off people with disabilities before parking the car?

A – There will be ample parking available close to Edmunds Center, and it will be clearly marked. Please refer to the campus map that shows locations for public parking. Shuttle service will be available from the Lynn Business Center, Flagler Hall and Allen Hall parking areas from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 11. Shuttle service is accessible for persons with disabilities.

Parking for persons with disabilities is available on the north side of Edmunds Center. Cars parked in this area are required to display a disabled parking permit. Access to this area is on E. Pennsylvania Avenue and Fraternity Circle. Public Safety Officers will be present to offer directions.

A circular drive accessible from E. Pennsylvania Avenue and Fraternity Circle will be available for drivers to drop-off persons with disabilities. Drivers will then be asked to move to the designated public parking areas.

6.         Q – How long will the ceremony last?

A – Each ceremony will last approximately 90 minutes.

5.         Q – What foods will be served at the reception between the morning ceremony and the afternoon ceremony? Will it be substantive enough for my family to make it through the day?

A – The reception fare will be delicious, but light. We recommend eating lunch somewhere in the area, enabling you and your party to enjoy both events.

4.         Q – Who should attend the Academic Awards Convocation on Friday afternoon?

A – The Academic Awards Convocation is a ceremony that recognizes those graduates who have been awarded honors in each of the colleges and schools for various projects, research and other academic achievements. All award recipients will be notified in advance through the Office of Academic Affairs. Those receiving awards will be asked to arrive at 2:30 p.m. and sit in the reserved seating area. It is recommended that graduates wear business attire for this event. All graduating students and their families are invited to attend.

3.         Q – How far is the Hollis Center from the Edmunds Center?

A – The Hollis Center is a short walk from the Edmunds Center. If someone in your party needs to ride to the reception in Hollis Center, a shuttle will be available in front of Edmunds Center, traveling to parking areas and Hollis Center.

2.         Q – Where do graduates pick up their caps and gowns?

A – Graduates can pick up their caps and gowns at the Stetson Bookstore, located at the north end of the Carlton Union Building. The Bookstore is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 11, from 7:45 a.m. to 2 p.m.

1.          Q – I won’t be able to attend the festivities on Saturday. Is there a way to watch the event live?

A - Yes! Friends and family unable to attend the ceremonies on May 11 can access our live video streaming at http://www.gohatters.com/liveEvents/liveEvents.dbml. When the event starts a PLAY button will appear on the page (approximately 10 minutes before the ceremony is scheduled to start). Note: You do not have to register. This is a free service for the Hatter community.

Remember to leave your air-horns at home and do your shouting on social media with the hashtag  #hattergrad !

For answers to these and more questions, visit the Commencement 2013 website. Congratulations, Stetson graduates! GO HATTERS!

Meredith Owen was among five Hatters honored by the Atlantic Sun on Tuesday. Courtesy: David S. Williams

Stetson softball junior pitcher Meredith Owen (Jackson, Miss.) earned three postseason awards Tuesday and was one of five Hatters recognized by the Atlantic Sun Conference for their achievements during the 2013 season.

Owen, one of nine players in the country to have recorded 20 wins and 10 home runs this season, was named Second Team All-Conference both as a pitcher and as a utility player, and she was also named to the A-Sun Academic All-Conference team.

Junior center fielder Chrissy Morello (Ormond Beach, Fla.) joined Owen on the Academic All-Conference team, while Kayla Drury (DeLand, Fla.), Jessica Griffin (Port St. John, Fla.), and Brittany Hawn (Kaneohe, Hawaii) were each selected to the A-Sun All-Freshman team.

Owen is 21-8 with a 1.82 ERA in the circle for the Hatters this season. She has struck out 144 batters in 188.2 innings, and she leads the nation in fewest walks allowed per seven innings (0.70). Owen has won nine of her last 10 decisions and was named the league’s Pitcher of the Week three times during the year.

At the plate, Owen leads the team in all three triple crown categories as she is batting .321 with 10 home runs and 32 RBI. She became the first Hatter since Andrea Migliori in 2009 to reach double digits in home runs. Against conference opponents Owen hit .333 with seven home runs and 16 RBI.

A Marketing major with a 3.53 cumulative GPA, Owen was selected to the academic all-conference team for the second straight year.

Morello, a first-time academic all-conference team selection, batted .292 with one home run and 15 RBI during the regular season. She leads the team with 47 hits and 18 stolen bases, and she maintains a 3.72 GPA while majoring in Elementary Education.

The Hatters put three members on the All-Freshman team for the first time since 2006. Drury has started all 50 games at second base, and is batting .289 with six doubles and 11 RBI. Hawn has also started all 50 games, including the final 45 at third base. She is batting .286 with one home run, 10 RBI, and 16 stolen bases. Griffin, meanwhile, has made 47 starts behind the plate, and is batting .296 with three home runs and 24 RBI. She was named the league’s Player of the Week on April 15.

Drury, Hawn, and Griffin were all unanimous selections to the All-Freshman team.

The Hatters (30-20) will face Florida Gulf Coast in the first round of the A-Sun tournament at 4 p.m. (ET) Wednesday in Nashville, Tenn.

For this and all Hatter sports news, be sure to visit gohatters.com.

Patrick Mazeika gets mobbed after hitting a walk-off home run in game one on Sunday in a 7-6 Stetson victory. Courtesy: David S. Williams

The Stetson baseball team took another big step forward this weekend by taking two of three games from North Florida. The Ospreys came into the weekend leading the Atlantic Sun Conference. Check out this story and all Hatter sports on gohatters.com.

The Hatters clinched the series victory with a dramatic 7-6 victory in Sunday’s opening game when freshman Patrick Mazeika led off the ninth inning with a game-winning solo home run. UNF was able to avoid getting swept by taking the second game, which was shortened to seven innings, 3-0.

With the split on Sunday, the Hatters move to 23-24 overall on the season but, more importantly, 12-9 in A-Sun play. Stetson has a magic number of just one to clinch a berth in the A-Sun Tournament, and is just three games behind new league co-leader, Mercer, with six games left in the conference season.

North Florida moved to 34-14 overall and 15-6 in league play and the Ospreys clinched a spot in the A-Sun Tournament for the first time since 2010. UNF is now tied with Mercer for first place in the league race and owns the tie-breaker after defeating Mercer twice earlier this year.

“If someone had told me going in that we would get two out of three, I would have taken it right there,” Hatters coach Pete Dunn said. “But, after you win the first two you get greedy. You have to give UNF credit because they have a good ball club and are in first place for a reason.”

“That is the number two hitting team in the nation and in three games our pitching staff only gave up 21 hits. That is pretty good. I thought our pitching staff did a good job for us overall and that was a good series for us. We just have to keep doing that.”

GAME 1 – Stetson 7, North Florida 6

The Hatters took a 4-3 lead into the eighth inning of the opening game, but the Ospreys continued to put up a fight.

Stetson starting pitcher Austin Perez had pitched a solid game for the Hatters, holding UNF to just three runs, two earned, entering the eighth. The Ospreys’ Tyler Marincov opened that inning by working a walk and, after he moved up on a sacrifice bunt, Stetson turned to freshman Tyler Warmoth.

Marincov immediately stole third off Warmoth and then scored on a single to left by Drew Weeks to tie the game at 4-4. Weeks then stole second and scored on a single by Kyle Brooks to give UNF a 5-4 lead.

The Hatters had an answer, but not in a traditional manner. Tyler Bocock opened the home half of the inning with an infield single off UNF reliever Kyle Westwood (3-1). After a sacrifice bunt moved him to second, Robert Bruce blooped a single to left to put runners on the corners.

That was where things got strange. Mitchel Brennan pinch hit and struck out on a pitch in the dirt that bounded toward the first base dugout. By the time UNF catcher Corey Bass tracked the ball down, Bocock had scored the go-ahead run and Bruce had raced all the way to third base.

Kevin Fagan followed by drawing a walk and, with Mike Fernland in an 0-2 hole, broke for second base to draw a throw from Bass. The play worked when Fagan stopped between first and second and UNF shortstop Kyle Brooks took his eyes off Bruce just long enough for him to swipe home, giving Stetson a 6-5 lead.

Warmoth appeared ready to make that lead stand up but he could not find a way to retire Marincov. The Ospreys’ preseason All-Conference outfielder battled through an eight pitch at bat that included facing five two-strike pitches with the Stetson crowd standing and clapping in anticipation of a victory before blasting a double into left center to tie the game at 6-6.

Cameron Griffin (4-3) came on in relief of Warmoth and got the final out of the inning on two pitches, and then picked up his second easy win in as many games when Patrick Mazeika blasted the second pitch he saw from Westwood down the right field line and out for a walk-off home run.

“It was kind of a roller coast, but I was proud of the kids because every time they came back on us to tie it or take the lead, we answered and did what we had to do,” Dunn said. “It was a big win. Mazeika hitting the game winner in the bottom of the ninth was pretty dramatic.”

Perez allowed just six hits in his 7.1 innings of work, allowing three earned runs while walking two and striking out two.

“AP is AP,” Dunn said. “He has pitched better than that, but he certainly didn’t pitch poorly. He kept us in the game. Cam was the ultimate vulture this weekend because he pitched a third of an inning in two games and got two wins, but that is baseball. He came in there and did a nice job in the two wins and did what we needed him to do.”

The Hatters out-hit UNF 13-9 in the game with Fagan, Mazeika, Darby McCormick and James Rasmussen accounting for two hits each.

GAME 2 – North Florida 3, Stetson 0

Stetson had plenty of scoring chances in the second game on Sunday, but left eight runners stranded on base against UNF starter Michael Renner (9-0) who went the distance in a seven-inning game.

“Renner is awfully good,” Dunn said. “He is 9-0, so he is obviously awfully good. We just never really made great adjustments. We had some opportunities, but he seemed to always buckle down and get a fly ball, a weak ground ball or a strikeout when he needed it.”

The Ospreys got all the runs they needed in the second inning off Stetson starter Chad Rood (0-3), who was his own worst enemy in the inning by allowing a walk and hitting two batters. He almost got away with only allowing one run when Bass grounded into a double play, but Spencer Herrmann, who was batting for the first time in the series, delivered a two-out RBI single to plate a second run.

UNF added an unearned run in the fourth inning off Joe Dye on a two-out error by Carlos Garmendia at third, allowing Brooks to score.

Stetson had multiple runners on base in four different innings, but only once had a runner advance past second. The Hatters were 0-for-7 in the game with runners in scoring position.

Rasmussen and Tanner Blackman had two hits each in the game for Stetson. Paul Karmeris and Brooks had two hits apiece for UNF.

The Hatters will play their final non-conference games of the season this week when top 10 ranked Florida State (38-9) brings its eight-game win streak into Melching Field. The Seminoles are coming off a weekend sweep of UCF in non-conference play.

“We are going to have to piece our pitching together this week and we know that,” Dunn said. “We are short of arms right now with (Kurt) Schluter and Fagan down. We have to get everyone involved, try to get some quality innings from everyone and just try to swing the bats.

“It is not going to be an easy task with as good as they are. The big thing is we are not going to cut ourselves short or jeopardize our arms for the weekend, but that doesn’t mean we can’t go out there and be competitive and win the games.”

After the two games against Florida State – Tuesday’s game is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and Wednesday’s game is set for a 4 p.m. start – the Hatters will close the home portion of the 2013 season with a three-game series against A-Sun newcomer Northern Kentucky.

“We have a team coming in next week that is playing a lot better,” Dunn said. “They have made some adjustments since early in the year when they were new to Division I.

“We just have to keep getting better. It is obvious that we are a better team now than we were early in the year, but we are still not real good. We just have to keep grinding to try to get better and build some momentum to get into the post-season. We just have to keep doing what we have done the last five weekends, and that is win and take care of business ourselves.”

Questions about Commencement? Go to Commencement website!

Share your Hatter Pride this Commencement week so that the entire Hatter Nation can celebrate with you.  Just remember to use the hashtag #hattergrad. Add the hashtag to your Instagram photos, Twitter comments, Vine videos, Facebook posts, blog comments and other favorite social media activities. Real-time moments shared before, during and after convocation, receptions, and commencement ceremonies May 10 and 11 will brim with the significance of the Stetson community, and will deserve wide audiences.

The Stetson University social media team will share as much activity as possible, especially May 10 and 11. Watch for photos to be posted on the StetsonU Flickr site and StetsonU Facebook page. The team also will gather contributions into a Storify feature to capture the emotion, excitement, and enthusiasm of these times of outstanding achievement and important milestones for Hatter grads.

Members of the Stetson community who won’t be at Commencement ceremonies can still be part of (and perhaps relive) the celebration by watching the live stream scheduled to air on the Athletics website www.gohatters.com.  The stream will go live shortly before each of the two (9 a.m.  and 2 p.m.) Commencement ceremonies May 11.  The StetsonU Facebook page and StetsonU Twitter account will post reminders about the live streams just before the ceremonies begin. If you don’t already follow these StetsonU social media sites, you can find them at https://www.facebook.com/stetsonU and https://twitter.com.

We’re only a few days away from the big moments, and excitement is building. Stay up-to-date by regularly checking the Commencement website at http://www.stetson.edu/commencement and by following StetsonU social media, including our Commencement idea boards on StetsonU Pinterest.

The Senior Art Exhibition by graduating senior Troy Norton, from Oviedo, Fla., pictured (left) sanding the tree branches of his art project, will be held Friday, April 26, from 6-9 p.m. in Conrad Warehouse, 113 W. Georgia Ave., in downtown DeLand. The exhibit is open to the public, free of charge.

Because the “Tree of Life,” Norton’s senior project, depicts the life cycle of a real tree, he needed a space larger than a typical exhibition space on campus. He scouted for a workable space that would encompass his finished project, and he found the perfect place in the warehouse space in Artisan’s Alley, across the street from Café DaVinci’s.

Norton has arranged for live musical entertainment, catered foods, all donated from many established restaurants in the area, as well as an array of beverages.

“Troy Norton is the only art major to win two Best of Shows back-to-back,” said Sculptor Professor Dan Gunderson, Norton’s faculty advisor. “He is the most decorated art student we’ve ever had at Stetson. He has worked well over 2,000 hours on this one project, alone.”

Extended viewing of the exhibition will continue through Friday, May 3, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., by appointment. For more information, call (407) 929-6074.

The Senior Thesis Exhibition of Studio Art at Hand Art Center will continue through Friday, April 26. “Oscar Bluemner’s Germany: Juxtaposing Jerichow” will run through Monday, April 29.

School of Music concerts include:

• University Concert Choir featuring Timothy Peter, conductor, 7:30 p.m., Friday, April 26. This will be the final concert performance by School of Music students and faculty until next semester.
• The Community School of Music’s concert by the Young Singers, Claudia Gatewood, conductor, will perform in concert Saturday, May 18.
• Inspirare, Stetson’s intergenerational women’s choral group, Ann Small, director, will meet for the first rehearsal Monday, April 29, 7-9 p.m., and every Monday after that, until the concert, May 30.

Friday, April 26:

• Lavender and MSC Awards Banquet
  

Saturday, April 27:

• Habitat for Humanity Build

Sunday, April 28:

• Chapel Service

Tuesday, April 30:

• Inspirational Storytelling with City Commissioner Vonzelle Johnson and Teacher Education Professor Glen Epley. They will share their stories as 1st generation  grads.
• One Million Bones Project – Join us to create a paper mache bone to contribute to the One Million Bones Project, an exhibit that will be constructed in the National Mall in Washington, D.C. from June 8-10. The bones will serve as a visual protest to inaction in regards to ongoing genocidal conflicts worldwide. Sponsored by STAND: A Student Anti-Genocide Coalition

Wednesday, May 1:

• CLASSES END
• Deadline for Summer/Fall Registration for currently enrolled undergraduate students
• First Year Fiesta – A celebration of students’ first year at Stetson. Food, fun and music to help celebrate the occasion!

Thursday, May 2:

• Honors Project – Living Sustainably in Finance – Karen Carlson – Speaker Karen Carlson’s workshop  will teach important financial lessons, such as: budgeting for your first year out of school; understanding your credit report (how to access) and your score; how to maximize your credit score – what this means for you; managing student loan payments; saving to fuel your dreams.

FINALS: May 3, 4

• Here’s our Finals Survival Guide to help Hatters and students everywhere - 

Visit GOHATTERS.COM for all Hatter Sports schedules! 

The Hatters (29-18, 12-11 A-Sun) took advantage of three Jacksonville errors to complete a season-sweep of the Dolphins (30-19, 11-12) and move into sole possession of sixth place in the league standings.

“Once again, Meredith did an outstanding job,” Stetson head coach Frank Griffin said. “Our defense played well and their defense broke down a couple times and it cost them some runs.”

Owen ran her personal win streak to eight, retiring 14 Dolphin batters in a row at one point. She struck out three and did not walk a batter, extending her streak to 46 straight innings without allowing a free pass.

“I have spent many hours in the bullpen working on control because I have never had the speed to blow it by people,” Owen said.

After posting seven wins her freshman year and 15 victories her sophomore year, Owen became the Hatters’ first 20-game winner since Amanda Lindsey in 2010.

“It means a whole lot, I am pretty sure that it’s more wins than we had as a team my whole freshman year,” Owen said about the 20-win milestone. “I just have to give credit to my team, they have supported me so much throughout this year. They are helping me get those wins, I can’t do it by myself.”

The Hatters took a 1-0 in the top of the third inning when Dolphin third baseman Ashley Simon overthrew second base while trying to complete a force play. The errant throw rolled all the way to outfield fence, allowing Meza to sprint home with the game’s first run.

“I slid into second and saw the ball go into the outfield, I was immediately thinking, ‘Go home’,” Meza said. “As I was heading to third I saw coach Griffin signaling me to go, and I knew I had to make it.”

Stetson added two runs in the fourth on another Dolphin throwing error and an RBI ground out by Jessica Griffin.

Jacksonville’s lone threat came in the sixth inning when the Dolphins plated one run on an RBI single by Sarah Simon. With the potential go-ahead run at the plate, Owen worked out of the jam, and retired the side on order in the bottom of the seventh to preserve the win.

“I was nervous because I didn’t have my stuff today, but Jessica Griffin did a fantastic job behind the plate,” Owen said. “She figured out a way to get (the Jacksonville hitters) out just by her pitch-calling. I don’t know how I would have done it without her.”

Jessica Griffin gave the credit right back to Owen.

“Once again she was just so consistent,” the Hatter catcher said. “It’s easy to call pitches when you know what’s coming your way.”

Brittany Hawn had two hits to lead the Hatters, who left 11 runners on base for the game.

“We scored enough to win, but I thought we left too many baserunners on,” Griffin said. “I was really disappointed in that. I know the first two innings we left five on and didn’t score, and we left more on base after that.”

Stetson will travel to Nashville, Tenn. this weekend for a three-game series against Lipscomb. The Hatters can wrap a spot in the A-Sun tournament with three wins in their final four games.

For more Hatter sports, visit GoHatters.com.

by Jamie Bataille