Nov. 19, 2009
MILLSBORO, Del. – The University of Maryland-Eastern Shore annually hosts the Hawk Classic Invitational and since 2006 the event has been very good to the Vanderbilt Commodores.
How good? The second-rated Commodores enter this weekend’s tournament as the three-time defending champion. It was the scene of the program’s very first team title in 2006.
“We’ve got a lot of great memories at this tournament,” says Coach John Williamson, “but memories don’t count once we get started. This is always a good field and whoever ends up as the winner will have to bowl very well.”
There will be at least three newcomers in the Black and Gold lineup than the one that prevailed here last year when Brittany Garcia, Brittni Hamilton, Tara Kane, Michelle Peloquin, Amanda Halter and Josie Earnest formed the winning foundation.
This weekend the Commodores travel with seven team members, including Hamilton, Josie and freshman sister Jessica Earnest, Kayla Rhoades, Amanda Halter, Ashley Belden and Kim Carper.
Baker play starts the event with five, 5-game matches set to begin Friday at noon at the Millsboro Lanes. There will be five team games on Saturday and Sunday will conclude with three rounds of the best four of seven Baker play.
The field is primarily Northeast Division teams. The teams include: Adelphi, Arkansas State, Bowie State, Coppin State, Cheney, Delaware State, Fairleigh Dickinson, Howard, Hampton, Kutztown, Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State, New Jersey City, Norfolk State, Sacred Heart, Saint Francis, Southern and Valparaiso.
