Finley among experienced Tigers enjoying second straight trip
By: Justin Feil
Melissa Finley’s second trip to an NCAA softball regional is bound to be better than her first.
Last year, Finley and Princeton University were sent to Minneapolis, more of an ideal venue for hockey than for softball. Finley was just a freshman then, and came into the regional with a severe ankle injury.
A healthy and more experienced Finley and the Tigers returned to an NCAA regional with an opener against South Carolina in sunny Tucson, Ariz., Thursday.
"It’s a great experience," Finley said after Wednesday’s batting practice. "I’m enjoying it so much more than Minnesota. I was more concerned with being able to play last year. There was a lot more pressure than anytime in the season and I was trying to deal with that and just trying to run.
"We have a lot of freshmen, but we’ve been through it before so hopefully it will help."
Finley is one of seven regulars who played in last year’s regional, when Princeton lost to Minnesota, 2-1, and Penn State, 3-0. Only three regulars shortstop Cristina Cobb-Adams, third baseman Amanda Erickson and pitcher Erin Snyder are freshmen.
"I think that last year when we went to regionals, the younger players took it in stride more," said PU head coach Maureen Barron, whose squad was 24-19-1 going into Thursday’s game. "That was exciting for me. Now that most of them have been to the tournament, they should be used to it. And the freshmen have come from successful programs. I think there will be more nervous energy, more excitement than just nerves."
Princeton is the seventh seed in the eight-team regional. South Carolina is the second seed. Regardless of Thursday’s outcome, Princeton has at least one more game in the double-elimination regional. With a win Thursday, they would play the winner of third-seeded Texas A&M and sixth-seeded Boston College 5 p.m. today. With a loss, they’d face the Texas A&M-Boston College loser noon today. With a win, they would play again at 7 p.m. today. Games continue until the regional title game Sunday.
"One of the things that’s favorable about us is we play up to the better teams," Barron said. "We might play down to the level of some teams, but we’re inspired to play good teams. We have to pitch well, play defense and hit the ball, no matter who we play.
"At this level, one error or one big hit means the game. We expect to see better pitching than we saw in our league. But we have to score to win."
More often than not this year, run production has come from Finley, who leads the team in nearly every offensive category and is among the top 20 in several national statistics.
The Ivy League Player of the Year improved 131 points from her freshman campaign for a .414 batting average, belted a school-record 13 home runs to aid a staggering .797 slugging percentage, scored a team-high 28 runs and had a team-high 55 runs, including 10 doubles. In 133 at bats, she struck out just 10 times.
"I hope Melissa comes in with the same confidence she’s had all year," Barron said. "She’s been a great player for us. People all look at her to lead. She’s calm and confident and cool."
That impression comes across even as Finley talks about being in the spotlight. Other regional teams won’t know much about Princeton, but Finley’s numbers are impossible to overlook.
"They might have seen them, but it’s not going to change what I’m doing or what other teams are doing," said Finley, who also went 7-5 as Princeton’s back-up pitcher. "Ivy League teams know our players well, and we did well. I’m not too worried about it."
"She had a good year as a freshman," Barron said. "Any time you’re in a pressure situation, you’d want Melissa Finley up. She has confidence coming out of last year and last summer."
Finley has seen her share of tough competition in the past year. It started last summer when she returned to London, Canada, to compete for the Canadian national championship, which her team won. Now Finley is hoping to come out of the underdog role to help the Tigers to a regional championship and a spot in the NCAA World Series.
"We’re not feeling a lot of pressure," Finley said. "People don’t expect us to win a lot of games so there’s not a lot of pressure. Other teams are going to be pressing to try to score runs on us. It’s a good place to be in."
And Melissa Finley and the Tigers are feeling a lot better about playing in their second straight NCAA regional.
"I think I know more what to expect," she said. "And us having a little more confidence will help us."

