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Former Charger goes to bat for war fighters PDF
Written by Special to UAHChargers.com   
Monday, 28 September 2009

  spencer_engineer.jpg

Photo by Merv Brokke

LAB WORK-- Mechanical engineer Kristin Spencer (above) demonstrates how she and her co-workers apply carbon fiber material to the composite hardback mandrel in order to fabricate the reduced-weight M279 Hellfire missile launcher. This work is accomplished in the Composite Structures Laboratory at AMRDEC.

By JENNY HESS
For the Rocket

ImageA former All-American softball player at the University of Alabama-Huntsville is serving her country and supporting Soldiers on the battlefield.

Kristin Spencer played outfield at UAH and was the school’s 2006 top engineering student. She graduated in 2006 with a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering.

In October 2007 she began working in the Composite Structures Laboratory, Aerospace Materials Function, Weapons Development and Integration Directorate at the Aviation and Missile Research Development and Engineering Center.

One of her first projects was to look at ways of reducing the weight of Army aviation platforms. Spencer helped design and build a reduced-weight replacement for the M279 Hellfire missile launcher for the OH-58 Kiowa Warrior helicopter.

Saving weight for the war fighter allows pilots to fly farther and at higher elevations and carry more cargo and ultimately gives aviators more planning options and flexibility to complete their missions and with a greatly increased margin of safety. By using carbon fiber structures, Spencer and her team were able to save the war fighter 32 pounds. 

“Using non-traditional materials such as carbon fiber instead of metals can save weight and still meet the same requirements,” she said.

The composite hardback, fabricated at AMRDEC, and the Hellfire Launch Rails, fabricated by Alliance Space Systems with design, analysis, and testing assistance from AMRDEC and the Materials Science Corporation, are on the battlefield now. For Spencer this is what she enjoys most about working at the AMRDEC -- being able to directly support the war fighter.

“It’s exciting knowing the work we do directly affects the Soldiers and I can help to make their jobs easier,” Spencer said.

Last Updated ( Monday, 28 September 2009 )
 
Stellar campaign earns UAH staff postseason honors PDF
Written by Antoine Bell   
Wednesday, 01 July 2009

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UAH head softball coach Les Stuedeman and assistant coach Karl Tunon were named South Region Coaching Staff of the Year after leading the Chargers to a 54-6 record. It's the fifth time that Stuedeman's staff has earned the award.

The Chargers advanced to the NCAA Championship Game for the first time in program history, falling to Lock Haven on Memorial Day. The Chargers swept Valdosta State in Super Regional play to advance to the Championship. The top seed in the South Region, UAH swept through regional play after going 1-1 at a rain-shortened Gulf South Conference (GSC) tournament. The Chargers finished second in the East Division of the GSC.

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 01 July 2009 )
 
Chargers fall to Lock Haven in National Final PDF
Written by Antoine Bell   
Monday, 25 May 2009

NCAAvsLockHaven.jpg

Photo Courtesy of Don Peterson Photos

Salem, Va. - The Chargers were just one win away. But, there would be no celebration, only heartbreak as UAH came up short of a national championship dream, falling to senior heavy Lock Haven University 8-0 in the Division II National Championship on Monday.

With the win, Lock Haven captured their second national title in four years, while the Chargers finished the season with a record of 54-6.

The Chargers managed just one hit off of Lock Haven All-American Kristin Erb. Meanwhile, the UAH pitching staff, led by starter Whitney Hawkins (Athens), finally gave way. Lock Haven roughed up the Chargers for 10 hits in the game.

Hawkins (21-1) suffered her only loss of the season. She worked five innings, allowed four runs on seven hits.

Lock Haven came out swinging early, getting a lead-off infield single from third-baseman Sarah Norris. With the hit, Norris set a new World Series record with 12. Norris was sacrificed to second and went to third on a ground out. However, she was left stranded when catcher Amanda Roosa rolled out to second to end the inning.

The Lady Eagles threatened again in the second inning as right fielder Erica Eisenbise led off with another infield single. Lock Haven would have runners on first and second base, but once again Hawkins pitched out of the jam.

While Lock Haven was pecking away and getting baserunners in each at-bat, the Chargers struggled as eight of the first 11 batters struck out. Emily Roach (Huntsville) was the only UAH hitter to reach on a single down the first base line in the second inning.

In the fifth inning, Lock Haven broke through again Hawkins scoring three runs. Two of the runs came on an RBI double by Erb. Lock Haven picked up another run on a sacrifice fly by shortstop Ilia Lopez.

Yhe Lady Eagles blew the game open in the sixth, batting around and adding five more runs. Lock Haven had four hits, including a two run double by shortstop Ilia Lopez.

The Chargers were unable to mount anything in the bottom of the inning and the season came to an end with a slow roller to second base by Kelli Long (Sterling, Ill.)

Five UAH players, Hawkins, catcher Kristina Prater (Athens), second baseman Michelle Ingram (Wetumpka), Roach and designated player Whitney Schrimsher (Huntsville) were named to the 2009 NCAA Division II Softball All-Tournament team.

Last Updated ( Monday, 25 May 2009 )
 
Chargers sweep into the World Series PDF
Written by Antoine Bell   
Saturday, 16 May 2009
So-Reg-Champs.jpg

 Photo by Chuck Edgeworth

Huntsville - No. 5 Alabama-Huntsville is headed to the Division II Softball World Series after completing a sweep of 3rd-ranked Valdosta State 3-0 on Saturday in the finals of the South Super Regional. With the win, the Chargers will face Central Region winner No. 6 Winona State in the first round of the National Tournament in Salem, Va., May 21-25.

"All year we've worked for a shot at a national championship and now we have it," said UAH head coach Les Stuedeman, who is taking a team to the national finals for the third time. The Chargers were region champions in 1999 and 2001. On both occasions the tournament was in Salem.

Both teams threatened in the first inning getting runners into scoring position. However, neither was able to push across a run.

UAH got on the board in the third inning on a lead-off solo home run by centerfielder Erin Duke.

In the sixth inning, the Chargers padded their lead with a pair of runs. An RBI single by Caitlin Lee made it 2-0, then pinch-runner Carly McGraw scored on a ground-out by Whitney Schrimsher to give UAH a three run lead.

That was all senior Sage Woodham and sophomore closer Alex Lewis would need as they combined to complete the team's second consecutive shutout. Woodham (20-1) pitched the first four innings, allowed four hits, struck out five and walked two. Lewis earned her Division II leading 16th save, working the final three innings. She held VSU to two hits and struck out one.

"We have preached shutouts all year to our pitchers and to get back to back shutouts against that team is amazing," Stuedeman commented.

Senior Brianna Collis (17-2) took the loss for VSU. She pitched five innings, allowed three runs on six hits. She had three strikeouts and a walk.

At the plate, Beth Lawson was 2-for-4 for UAH. Duke's homer was her seventh of the season.

Stephanie Carlson had two hits for Valdosta State, who finished the season with a record of 57-8.

 
Chargers advance to Super Regionals to face Valdosta State PDF
Written by Antoine Bell   
Sunday, 10 May 2009
UAHvsUWF-Game6.JPG
Photo Courtesy: Chuck Edgeworth - 
OF Erin Duke was 2-for-3 including a 3-run blast in UAH's win over UWF

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - The top-seeded Alabama-Huntsville Chargers advanced to the South Super Regional with a 5-2 win over No. 5 seed West Florida in a steady drizzle on Sunday. With the win, UAH (49-5) will host South 2 Regional winner Valdosta State (56-6) on May 15-16 at the Charger Softball Complex. The winner of the best 2-of-3 series will represent the South Region at the Softball World Series May 21-25 in Salem, Va.

Friday's game is slated to start at 3:30 p.m. Game two is scheduled for 1:00, with Game 3 (if necessary on for 3:30. Tickets for the weekend are $10 for an Adult Weekend Pass, $6 Adult Single, $6 Student Weekend Pass and $4 Student Single Day Pass.

Valdosta State enters the Super Regional ranked No. 3 in the NFCA poll and tournament No. 2 seed. Like UAH, the Blazers swept through South Regional 2, beating the University of Tampa and sweeping two from Nova Southeastern.

UAH is the top seed in the Regional and the No. 5 team in Division II. The Chargers knocked off Miles College, Rollins College and West Florida to earn a ticket to the Super Regional.

The two teams split a pair of games during the regular season at Valdosta. The Blazers won the opener 4-2, but UAH rebounded to take game two 9-4. The teams were scheduled to play in Huntsville later in the season, but the doubleheader was rained out. This is the first visit to Huntsville for the Blazers since 2007. However, Valdosta State was one of the first teams to play at the Charger Softball Complex. On April 28, 2007, the two teams split the series as UAH won the opening game 5-1 and VSU taking game two 4-1.

Visit the South Super Regional web home for live stats links, updates and game recaps during the weekend.

In Sunday's championship game, UAH had a huge opportunity to blow the game open in the third inning, loading the bases with a lead-off walk by Kathryn Whitlock and bunt singles by Erin Duke and Kristina Prater. However, the Chargers managed only one run on a sacrifice fly by Kelli Long.

West Florida responded in the top of the fourth inning, scoring a pair of runs to take a 2-1 lead. Catcher Kristee Wheeler led off with a walk. A sacrifice and base-hit later, pinch-runner Stephanie Ryan scored on a fielder's choice. One batter later, UWF pitcher Emily Burge dropped a base-hit into centerfield and designated player Jillian Lafrance beat the throw to the plate, giving the Argonauts a 2-1 lead.

Alabama-Huntsville came right back in the bottom of the inning to reclaim the lead on a three-run homer by Duke. Duke's sixth home run of the season gave UAH a 4-2 lead.

In the fifth inning, the Chargers added some insurance on an RBI single by tournament Most Outstanding Player Whitney Hawkins. Hawkins allowed only one more hit and Division II saves record holder Alex Lewis came in to shut UWF down the rest of the way.

Hawkins (17-0) pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowed two runs on five hits, struck out five and walked one. Lewis closed out the last 1 2/3 innings to earn her 15th save of the season.

Burge was the losing pitcher for UWF. The senior pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowed five runs on 10 hits. She struck out three and walked three.

At the plate, four Chargers had two hits apiece. Whitlock was 2-for-2, while Duke and Hawkins were 2-for-3 and Prater 2-for-4. Duke had the homer and three RBI.

For West Florida, both Burge and Shannon Miles were 2-for-3. Burge had a double and an RBI.

I'm proud of the effort today and I'm glad we didn't have to lean heavily on (Beth) Lawson and Caitlin Lee like a crutch to win this game," said UAH head coach Les Stuedeman. "The job is not done. We still have work to do. Our goal all season has been to get to Salem."

"Huntsville is a good hitting ballclub and Emily through her heart out," commented UWF coach Tami Cyr. "We lost to a good team and we wish Huntsville the best at the Super Regional."

All-Tournament team:

Pitchers - Whitney Hawkins (UAH), Jillian Lafrance (UWF)
Catcher - Whitney Schrimsher (UAH)
Infield - Shannon Miles (UWF), Beth Lawson (UAH), Kathryn Whitlock (UAH), Caitlin Lee (UAH)
Outfield - Emily Roach (UAH), Monica Meadows (RC), Erin Duke (UAH)
DP - Emily Burge (UWF)
At-Large - Nicole Anderson (RC), Valerie Pena (MC)
MOP - Whitney Hawkins (UAH)

Last Updated ( Monday, 11 May 2009 )
 
 

(54-6, 22-3)

2009 Division II
Softball World Series
Salem, VA
Tournament Home Page

May 21

UAH 1
Winona State 0
Boxscore

May 22

UAH 3
Lock Haven 1
Boxscore

May 24

UAH 10
Angelo State  0
Boxscore

May 25

Lock Haven 8
UAH 0
Boxscore
 

 

 

 
 

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