Poland's Patton snaps Bethany record

The senior broke the career hits mark in her final at bat in her final game.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BETHANY, W. Va. -- Emily Patton's best hit turned out to be her last one with the Bethany College softball team.
Patton, a senior outfielder from Poland High, broke the Bethany career hits record with 183 in the Bison's final game of season and the final game of her career.
A four-year starter who played all 162 games during her career, Patton set the mark with a one-out single in the third inning in the nightcap of a doubleheader against Grove City April 29. She surpassed Raquel Burns' record of 182.
Patton, who graduated May 6 with a degree in political science and Spanish, entered the doubleheader needing five hits to surpass Burns. Patton responded with three hits in the opener and two in the nightcap to make history.
Patton said she wasn't aware she had a chance to break the record until just before the final doubleheader.
"I actually didn't know what I needed. I knew I was close, but I didn't know how close," said Patton. "I really honestly wasn't thinking about it. I just blocked it out of my mind."
The Bison finished the season with a 14-24 record, including 4-8 in President's Athletic Conference.
Two other milestones
Patton also broke the school career record for at-bats (565), and ranked second in career runs scored (112).
The daughter of Dave and Theresa Patton of Poland, Emily also was selected to the All-PAC team for the fourth straight year, including her third straight first-team honor.
Patton led Bethany in hits (48) and batting average (.343), to rank second and eighth, respectively, in the PAC. She also led the Bison in at-bats (140), runs scored (19), total bases (53) and on-base percentage (.361).
She also had 13 RBIs, three doubles and one triple.
Leonard helps Miami (Ohio)
Dan Leonard, a junior catcher for the Miami (Ohio) baseball team from Canfield, went 4-for-5 at the plate in the RedHawks' 6-1 win over Bowling Green April 30.
Leonard played in eight games as of May 9, starting seven of them, and was batting .286 (6-for-21) with three runs scored.
He also had a .781 fielding percentage with one error in 54 chances with 49 putouts and four assists.
He helped Miami to a 25-22 record, including 12-9 in the MAC, with eight wins in a row.
Also on the Miami team are Robert Shannon, a freshman pitcher from Beaver Local, and Adam Wigley, a freshman pitcher from Poland.
Shannon has appeared in two games and has pitched two innings with a 4.50 ERA.
Wigley hasn't played in any games.
Satterlee is selected
BARBOURVILLE, Ky. -- Erin Satterlee, senior second baseman for the Union (Ky.) College baseball team from Youngstown, was selected to the CoSIDA District IV College Division academic All-America second team.
Satterlee, a transfer from Odessa Community College, is majoring in criminal justice.
Through May 6, Satterlee led Union in homers (6), was No. 2 in hits (74), RBIs (60) and doubles (17), and tied for No. 2 in runs scored (62) and triples (2) . He also ranked fifth in batting average with .381 (74-for-194).
Satterlee helped Union to a 47-12 record and a berth in the NAIA Region XII Tournament in Kingsport, Tenn.
Also with the Union team is Mike Eliseo, a freshman infielder and outfielder from Austintown Fitch.
Eliseo was batting .212 (14-for-66) with 14 RBIs, 17 runs scored, one homer and two doubles.
kovach@vindy.com