Saeed Husain
Chief Copy Editor

The Fighting Scots softball team spent their spring break in Florida, taking home a 7-9 overall record. This was an improvement from their 6-10 run last year, despite the team being comprised of eight first-year players on a team of 15.

The Voice met with Gillian Hansel ’21 and Rachel Ginsburg ’21 to recap their trip to the Sunshine State.

Talking about their favorite moments off the field, both felt that the major takeaway was the fact that their team gelled well together.

Ginsburg said, “Before Florida I don’t think we really knew each other well. Practicing, playing together, laughing, swimming, basically just being on a vacation together, I think we became close and that really helped the team dynamic.”

Hansel was of the same opinion, “We didn’t really know how to vibe together until we went on this trip, and everyone just got extremely close. We didn’t really know how to play together in a real live game situation until we got to Florida.”

The spring break trip also saw many players participate in their first collegiate game. Hansel spoke of that feeling.

“We played fall ball last semester… but it just wasn’t the same till we got to Florida, and just that realization that ‘Oh my God, this is my first collegiate game ever’ hits you and you realize how serious this is.”

The Scots won their opening game against Centenary (N.J.), but quickly slumped to a four-game losing streak against regionally and nationally ranked teams.

Of the decline, Hansel said, “We were all super down and not in the mood to talk about it or do anything, but then the next day we came back together as a team collectively, we won our second game [against Wisconsin-Lutheran] and the mood just instantly changed, alongside realizing that our team is really strong.”

Talking about why they were able to make the change, she added, “I think we all realized that we were stressing out too much and thinking about making mistakes and not doing something right, but then we got on the field and everyone just played the game and forgot about everything else and that’s probably why we won.”

Talking about her favorite on-field moment from the trip, Ginsberg alluded to Marina Roski ’20’s two home runs against Ramapo (15th in the nation).

“She’s just a really good role model too and she was pretty humble [when she hit the home runs], like she said, ‘Yeah, it happened, now let’s continue with the game.’”

Talking about the coaching they have received so far, both Ginsberg and Hansel credit Head Coach Victoria Rumph and Assistant Coach Desi Hengoed for being so welcoming.

Ginsberg said, “They put the team as their top priority, they’re super dedicated and I think we’re really lucky to have them both.”

“I’ve never had a female softball coach before, so I think that brings a really good perspective and they’re super relatable and both understand what it feels like to be a female athlete, a female student-athlete at a small school where academics are top priority. They understand that it’s really hard and we can come and talk to them about pretty much anything.”

Also of note, Rumph is an active member of Softball Canada, currently one of 22 athletes in the second phase of the Women’s National Team selection process.

To what precedent the spring break trip leaves for the rest of the season, Hansel felt that playing against top-ranked teams makes them well-prepared for conference (NCAC) matches.

Ginsburg added, “I think Florida made us realize that we’re fully capable of doing very well this year and that we shouldn’t let past failures dictate what we can do.”

The Fighting Scots softball team travels to Kenyon College on April 7, before playing home games against Oberlin College at Galpin Park on April 10, at 3:30 and 5:30 p.m.