Shelley Grostefon
Contributing Writer
The Wooster women’s softball team has had a back-and-forth start to their 2016 season with a record of 10-12. Jeff Bricker, acting head coach, envisions a successful end to the season, especially with defensive improvements and better weather.
During March 14-24, the team played in the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic for softball in Fort Myers, FL, ending with a record of 9-7. Since returning from spring break, the team lost two doubleheaders: 12-6, 10-0 against the University of Mount Union on March 30 and 10-2, 4-2 against Case Western Reserve University on April 4.
On April 6, the team split a doubleheader against Allegheny College, winning the first game 4-0 but losing the second game 7-4. The first game featured Maddy Chase ’18 who pitched her third shutout of the year and only allowed for three hits. The team fought hard in the second game and only lost in the bottom of the seventh inning to a walk-off grand slam by Allegheny.
Coach Bricker believes that the team’s success in Florida and against Allegheny is largely due to teamwork.
“They work good together, they like each other and they work hard in practice. You couldn’t ask for more,” Bricker said. “The chemistry is there.”
Bricker also notes that the team hits well and has strong pitching in Chase and Jenna Kendall ’17.
Marissa Gorvet ’16 agrees that the team’s hitting has been solid this year and that the team’s unique strength is its closeness. “It’s hard to bring fifteen different personalities together but I think we’ve been doing a great job at that,” Gorvet said. “We have three freshmen this year and I think they’re contributing highly to the program. They’re three good ladies with good attitudes and they’re very talented.”
In order to improve upon the team’s current record, Bricker will focus on its defensive efforts in order to remain competitive as the team continues to play conference games. “It doesn’t always show up in the statistics,” he explained. “It’s not an error every time, just plays you didn’t make that you could have, like a double play.”
Gorvet agreed that defensive play should be the team’s focus for improvement. “We need to improve our defense and limit the mental and physical errors in the game, which we are more than capable of doing.”
The team will attempt to make these improvements through the rest of the season, and its ultimate goal is to make the conference tournament. Gorvet is confident in the team’s ability. “I think we are all willing to pull it together and work hard to do what it takes to get there,” she said.
Bricker is looking forward to the rest of the season with excitement. “The worst part of the season has been the weather. We’ve only played two conference games. The bulk of our season lays ahead of us,” he explained. “We’ll be in a real battle.”
The team hosted a double header against Ohio Wesleyan University on April 12 after press time. The Scots play again tomorrow in a double header against Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio.