Athletics
Softball
| Robyn Newton | |
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Softball - Head Coach
Vermont '95 Eighth Season rnewton@smcvt.edu 802.654.2676 |
Former University of Vermont standout Robyn Newton, the winningest coach in program history, begins her eighth season as head coach of the Saint Michael's softball team in 2008. She has guided the Purple Knights to the four winningest seasons in program history the last four years, including a program-record 26-14 campaign in 2007. The Purple Knights began the 2007 season by winning their first 6 games before finishing seventh in the Northeast-10 Conference, one spot shy of a tournament appearance.
Newton led the Purple Knights to a 25-16 season in 2005. Picked to finish ninth in the Northeast-10 Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, Newton's squad finished in fourth place. SMC earned a berth in the highly-competitive NE-10 playoffs for the first time in program history, finishing in third place following an upset victory of nationally-ranked Le Moyne. The team also broke a 25-year old record by recording seven straight wins during the regular season.
Newton also had a record-setting season in 2004. She guided the Purple Knights to a 21-17 record, the program's first winning season since 1981, and in the process shattered the program record for victories in a season (which was previously nine, in 2003 and 1979). Newton also led the 2004 Purple Knights to a 15-13 record in the NE-10, just missing out on the squad's first-ever postseason berth.
For her efforts, Newton was named the 2004 NE-10 Softball Coach of the Year, as she helped the Purple Knights finish eighth in the conference following a 14th-place finish in the NE-10 Preseason Coaches' Poll.
In seven years at Saint Michael's, Newton has compiled a career record of 110-152-1 (.420), including 90-71(.559) the last four seasons.
She has coached softball at a variety of levels, including assistant coach at the University of Vermont from 1995-99. During the 2000 season she was the head softball coach at Trinity College of Vermont, while also holding the position of Interim Athletic Director.
Before her coaching days, she was a star player on the Vermont softball team from 1991-95. She was a four-year starting first baseman and a co-captain, while also being named the Sally Guerette Player of the Year for Vermont in 1994. In 138 career games, Newton is tied for sixth in UVM history with 51 runs batted in, and her 42 hits and 23 RBI in 1994 are the fifth-best single-season marks at UVM.
Newton earned her B.A. in Physical Education K-12 from Vermont. She earned her Master's degree in Education from Southern New Hampshire University. Newton has taught Physical Education full-time at Vergennes Union Elementary School for the past 11 years.
| Ralph Halbach | |
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Softball - Assistant Coach
13th season |
Ralph Halbach returns to the Purple Knights' coaching staff for his 13th season in 2008. Halbach works primary with the pitching staff, but helps out with all areas of the program, including recruiting.
Halbach has been a pitching coach in Vermont for more than 14 years. A native of Saint Anna, Wisc., Halbach spent nine years in the Air Force and was stationed at the Saint Albans Radar site for nearly six years.
Halbach has spent most of his life around the game of softball, playing for local leagues in Wisconsin, Air Force teams, and a team from Grand Rapids, Minn. His knowledge and experience are a critical asset to the pitching staff for the Purple Knights. Halbach has worked for IBM as a lab technician since leaving the service 25 years ago.
In January of 2005, Halbach was recognized for his contributions to softball throughout the state by being inducted into the Vermont Expos/Banknorth Sports Community Hall of Fame.
Halbach's sense of humor and passion for the game of softball have positively impacted all of the players that he has coached at Saint Michael's College.
| Meg Currier | |
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Softball - Volunteer Assistant Coach
Saint Michael's '07 First season mcurrier@smcvt.edu |
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| Meggan Roberge | |
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Softball - Volunteer Assistant Coach
Saint Michael's '07 First season mroberge@smcvt.edu |
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