By TONY BELLISSIMO
Sandberg, a West Hempstead High School 2008 graduate from Island Park, started at catcher and helped the Lady Bulldogs reach the World Series for the first time in program history. She hit .297 on the year with nine home runs and 26 RBI and also made a large contribution to the country’s top defensive team.
“Our goal from the beginning of the season was to be one of the last eight teams [in the country] standing and play in the World Series,” Sandberg said. “We thought we had a pretty good shot as soon as we saw the bracket. It was pretty amazing.”
In the final national polls (USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association and ESPN.com/USA Softball), Georgia (47-12) received its highest-ever ranking at No. 4. After finishing second in the Southeastern Conference’s Eastern Division, the Lady Bulldogs won the Chapel Hill Regional and Athens Super Regional to qualify for the World Series. They sent Missouri and Michigan packing before being eliminated by eventual national champion Washington.
In World Series games, Sandberg had seven hits including a homer against Missouri.
“I knew Kristyn would be a clutch player,” Georgia coach Lu Harris-Champer said. “She’s gritty and gutsy and fit right in. All I’ve ever asked of my catcher is to throw runners out and make plays at the plate. She did that and more. For a freshman in the SEC, she had an outstanding offensive and defensive year.”
Sandberg, a four-time All-County player at West Hempstead who as a senior batted .784 with 12 home runs, learned last fall she would start the spring as Georgia’s starting catcher. “Coach didn’t want me to redshirt,” Sandberg said. “She told me at the end of fall ball that I won the starting job. It was a nice feeling to know my hard work paid off.”
Facing the best pitching the nation has to offer, Sandberg had a trying opening month. It took 10 at-bats for her to pick up her first collegiate hit—a double against Oregon State—and she was hitting .206 (7-for-34) after 17 games. “The beginning was rough,” she said, “but I started to hit well once we got into SEC play.”
Sandberg’s offense improved with each series, and she busted out April 18-19 in a three-game set at Auburn by going 7-for-13 with three homers and six RBI. She hit .323 over her final 124 at-bats. “She had a few weeks in the fall where she really crushed the ball, so I knew she was capable,” Harris-Champer said.
Chris Van Kovics, who coached Sandberg in two sports at West Hempstead and followed her throughout the season, wasn’t surprised by her success. “Kristyn’s a dominant athlete,” he said. “I’m proud of her.”
Comments about this story? TBellissimo@
liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 204.
