Eagles start season with 11-7 mark
IV Leader Staff, April 12, 2007
The IVCC Softball Team is off to an 11-7 overall start to
the season, with a 7-5 Arrowhead Conference record. Currently, the team’s
hitting seems to be its strong point, according to Coach Cory Tomasson.
As a team, the Lady Eagles are batting .373, while their
opponents only have a combined .264 batting average. “Our bats are really strong
this year. Rachel Moats is leading the team with a .534 batting average and
Gemma Shallito is hitting .448, but we also have six consistent hitters batting
over .300,” Tomasson said. “Another offensive strength is the extra base hits
that our team has put together. Last year, our team only had one home run for
the year. This year we have accumulated seven from six different players. We
also have 30 doubles and 7 triples.”
Pitching has been another strength of the team. Freshman
Lyndi Araujo is leading the team on the mound. Tomasson says, “Lyndi has a 1.23
ERA and is pitching very well this year. She is hitting her spots well and is
control of nearly every game she pitches. Kayla Reno has been our second pitcher
recently and is also doing very well. Unfortunately, we have not been helping
our pitchers out like we should. “ Finally, Aly Walter has also seen time in the
circle and has seen some success and will be pitching more throughout the year.
She just needs to work on her consistency and then I think she can dominate a
game.”
Although the pitching has been successful, Tomasson points
out the main weakness of this year’s team, and that has been defense. “This team
is making mistakes that are costing crucial runs. We have lost 4 to 5 games on
errors. In fact, every game that we have lost in conference, except one, we have
out hit our opponents and had more earned runs. When we play cleanly and make
the routine plays, I don’t think that anyone in our conference or region can
beat us, because our team is that good.”
However, with unearned runs, Tomasson said the Eagles can
also lose to any team. “With half of the season over, I expect this team to
learn from what we have done wrong and correct those problem areas. I truly
think that this team can go to nationals this year.” Considering the team
consists of only two sophomores and 10 freshmen, the Lady Eagles can hope to
gain the experience they will need to succeed in the Regional Tournament.
While weather has played havoc with the team’s early season
schedule, the Eagles are expected to be in action next at 3 p.m. on April 12 at
home vs. Blackhawk, on April 14-15 in the Highland Tourney and April 17 vs.
Highland. The team’s final scheduled home game is April 25 at 3 p.m. vs.
Waubonsee.