Coquitlam's Cara Lukawesky is a chucker who clobbered a personal-high home run Monday when it was announced she won Great Northwest Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week.
Lukawesky led the Simon Fraser University women's softball team to three victories last weekend in the Las Vegas Desert Stinger tournament to boost the Clan's early season NCAA Div. 2 record to 4-1.
"My performance last weekend would not have happened without the defence playing strong behind me and the offence putting us in a position to win," said the junior Lukawesky, who also added a save in a 2-1 win over the Lewis University Flyers of Chicago. "I think the success can really be attributed to being a more-experienced pitcher now, working hardin the off-season and working hard in practice."
On Saturday, Lukawesky started and went six solid innings as the Clan doubled the Academy of Art Urban Knights of San Francisco 10-5, then sent seven-and-two-thirds as SFU prevailed 9-6 Sunday over the Grand Canyon Antelopes of Phoenix.
Overall, the five-foot-10 Port Moody secondary school grad threw 19-and-two-thirds innings, allowing 25 hits and 10 runs and posting a healthy 2.85 earned run average.
"I am pleased to see Cara get recognized for her performance," said SFU head coach Mike Renney. "Without a doubt, Cara will be a key figure in our team's success so her good start to the season is a great sign."
Lukawesky and the Clan take the field again starting today (Wednesday) at the Hope International tournament in Fullerton, Cal.
COLLINS CONNECTS FOR CLAN
Kristina Collins of Port Coquitlam poured in 16 points, including four three-pointers, but her SFU Clan fell 77-57 Saturday to the No. 12-ranked University of Alaska Seawolves in a GNAC contest in Anchorage.
Collins canned the Clan's first eight points in the game on a pair of treys and a lay-up as SFU led early 8-6 and went on to lead 36-30 at halftime.
But with the score knotted at 46-46 with just over 13 minutes remaining, the Seawolves went on a 12-2 tear to take control.
Next, the 14-8 Clan host the Central Washington Wildcats tomorrow (Thursday) at SFU's West Gym, 7 p.m.
KOCS HOT FOR WOLFPACK
Coquitlam's Tracy Kocs netted 17 points as the Thompson Rivers WolfPack of Kamloops closed out their Canada West university women's hoop season with an 80-42 romp Saturday over the UBC Okanagan Heat at the Tournament Capital Centre in Kamloops.
The victory moved the WolfPack to 8-9 and advanced them to playoffs for the first time in their seven-year CIS history.
The game also marked the final home appearance for the WolfPack's three seniors, including Michelle Dimond of Port Moody.
In men's basketball play Sunday, Zach Usherwood of Coquitlam notched nine points as the WolfPack was tripped 93-71 by the Kelowna-based Heat, who got 14 points from freshman guard and Terry Fox grad Bret Macdonald.
CASCADES' FREEMAN ON FIRE
Coquitlam product Sam Freeman poured in 19 points to carry the Fraser Valley Cascades to an 89-70 victory Thursday over the Trinity Western Spartans in a Canada West university men's basketball game at Langley Events Centre.
A Dr. Charles Best secondary school grad, Freeman also collected three rebounds as the No. 5-ranked Cascades out-scored the Spartans 32-13 in the third quarter to blow open a tight game.
The Cascades finished the regular season at 13-5 with playoffs looming.
