After finishing third place in the GLIAC tournament last year, the Hillsdale College softball team will look to build on its success this season. The Chargers will open their season tomorrow against Fairmont State University in South Carolina.
As the Chargers only lost three seniors at the end of last year, head coach Joe Abraham said the team consists almost entirely of returning players.
“This year, to a large degree, has been a continuation of last year,” he said. “Since there are only three freshmen, we can jump right back into the way we do things.”
In addition to the large amount of experienced team members, Abraham said the team is well-rounded in terms of talent.
“We’re a pretty well-balanced team in all aspects of the game — hitting, pitching, batting — and we have a ton of experience on-field,” he said. “We do not lack game experience.”
Despite ample experience and talent, this year’s team consists of only 14 players, leaving little room for potential injuries or illness. The smaller size, however, has also helped produce a close-knit team.
“Our team chemistry is really good,” freshman second baseman Amanda Marra said. “We all get along really well, which is reflected in the way we play. We play for each other.”
The two new assistant coaches, Kate Ardrey ’15 and Tristan Wilcox, both said their first year as Hillsdale coaches is off to a good start.
“It’s going really well,” Wilcox said. “I enjoy working with the team. It’s a great group of girls. They’re really coachable.”
According to junior center fielder Bekah Kastning, the feeling is mutual. Kastning said the new assistant coaches have helped to implement more drills and offer additional perspectives.
“We love them,” she said. “We think they’ve been a great addition to the team. We miss the old coach, but a fresh perspective is always good.”
An additional challenge facing the team this year is a shortened opportunity for out-of-conference games. Due to the late spring break, Abraham said the team will not travel to Florida like it usually does, as other schools’ spring breaks do not overlap with Hillsdale’s break. The Chargers usually play anywhere from 15-25 games out of conference, but this year, Abraham said the team will only play eight.
Despite the lack of out-of-conference game opportunities and fierce competition from within the conference, Kastning said hopes remain high for a strong season.
“Our whole team really wants to win the conference,” she said. “This team is by far the best that the program has had.”
Abraham said his goals for the team are primarily process-based, short-term goals.
“My goals as a coach are to play as well as we can, and let the chips fall where they may,” he said.
