By Josh Lashley, Special Writer
Let’s take a glance at local student-athletes who competed in collegiate sports this past spring season. This is the fourth installation in the series.
Kim Murl from Nottingham High School was a senior right-handed pitcher for the West Chester University (Pennsylvania) softball program this spring. Murl posted a record of 12-2 in the circle with a 2.13 earned run average. She recorded 97 strikeouts for the Golden Rams. Murl earned All-PSAC East, All-Atlantic Region and All-Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) honors.
West Chester had an overall record of 42-22 and they were 16-3 at home. In the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) they had a mark of 19-9. The Golden Rams went 2-2 at the PSAC Tournament and then competed in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region 1 in California, Pennsylvania, where they won three straight games.
The Golden Rams then won the NCAA Division II Atlantic Super Regionals, winning two games to one over West Virginia Wesleyan College. From there, they advanced to the NCAA Division II National Finals where they went one and two with a victory over Long Island University Post and losses to Armstrong Atlantic State University and Dixie State University.
Matt Backlund from Steinert High School and Matt Patterson from Nottingham High School were both members of the Alvernia University (Reading, Pennsylvania) baseball team this spring. Patterson, a senior first baseman, started in all 39 games and had a .393 batting average. Patterson led the team with 55 hits, 29 RBIs, 44 runs scored and three triples. He also had 11 doubles, and a home run.
Backlund, a sophomore pitcher, had a 1-0 record on the mound with a 3.86 earned run average. Backlund struck out 20 batters.
Alvernia had an overall record of 27-12, with a mark of 11-4 at home. In the Commonwealth Conference, the Crusaders posted a record of 14-7. They advanced to the final round of the Commonwealth Conference Championships where they were defeated, 3-2, by Widener University in a game held in York, Pennsylvania.
Kelsey Harshman from Steinert High School was on the roster as a sophomore midfielder/attacker for the Lycoming College (Williamsport, Pennsylvania) women’s lacrosse squad this spring. Harshman played in 16 games and started in three of them for Lycoming. She recorded four goals.
The Warriors posted an overall record of 5-11, with a mark of 4-3 on their home field.
Christa Strycharz from Steinert High School was a junior distance runner for the LaSalle University (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) women’s outdoor track and field program. Strycharz placed first for the Explorers at the Owls Alumni Invitational hosted by Temple University in the 3,000 with a time of 10:49.46.

