Wes softball is back swinging this season, with fresh new faces, fresh new attitudes, and a whole lot of winning to do. With many familiar faces on the line-up, including second team all-conference pitcher Molly Gaebe ’07, veteran outfielder Liz Burnside ’05, and second-year captain Sue Frost ’05, this team will look to its leadership to outlast the competition and to improve upon last year’s 11-20 record.
The Cardinals started their season in Florida against Curry College. It was a rough start for the Cardinals, who never advanced a runner past second base and only recorded two hits, both by Allison Zoromski ’07. The Cardinals dropped the game 3-0. The next three contests yielded the same result, with losses to St. Joseph’s University, Roger Williams University and Wheaton College. But the Cardinals gained their strength and momentum in each contest before putting their bats to work against Northland College. Wes jumped to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning and added five more runs over the next two.
Northland was unable to handle the heat thrown by Karla Hargrave ’08, who recorded her first collegiate win. The Cards took the game 8-0 and took four out of five games before returning to Connecticut.
“I felt we improved each game and our hitting really came alive in the second half of the trip,” said fourth-year head coach Jenn Shea. “After dropping our first four games, we won five of our last seven which gives us strong momentum going into the northern part of our schedule. Everyone contributed in each game and in each victory, proving that we have a very solid team this year.”
Bringing their 4-6 record home, the Cardinals had hoped to start the NESCAC season on a high note, but came up short against the Coast Guard Academy. The Cards had the bats swinging first, scoring three runs in three innings while keeping Coast Guard Academy at zero. But five unearned runs in the fifth inning by the Academy had the Cards reeling for runs. Three more in the sixth gave the Academy an 8-3 lead. The Cardinals answered with four more runs, but it was not enough, and they dropped their first New England game with an 8-7 final.
“This year’s team should definitely bring a high level of competition every time we step onto the field,” said co-captain Lauren Kunzik ’06. “We’ve only graduated one player, so with a solid returning group and some great freshmen, I think we’re talented enough to beat anyone.”
The Cardinals hope that the strong play they displayed in Florida returns in time for their matchups with NESCAC foes. In the NESCAC western division, the Cards hope to place better than last year’s fourth-place finish, but they face tough competition in Division champions Williams and the Middlebury Panthers.
“As long as we stay healthy, we will have a very successful season,” Shea said. “A strong pitching staff, solid defense and timely hitting are the makings of a very good team and we definitely have all three. Our goal is to make the NESCAC tournament, which means we need to finish in the top two [in the division]. We are definitely capable of competing with anyone in the NESCAC and just have to take one game at a time and not get too far ahead of ourselves.”
Each season under Coach Shea, Wesleyan has not only improved its record, but its teamwork and skills. The Cardinals have three straight home games coming up next week, Thursday against Albertus Magnus College, Saturday against Middlebury, and the following Thursday against Elms College.
“We have a great group of women who are dedicated, hard-working and want to win, and that will be what drives us this season,” Shea said.
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