Posted: 4/18/07

Starting strong
St. Michael's softball team starts season with successful record

Katie Robichaud | contributing writer
krobichaud@smcvt.edu

The St. Michael's softball team played its first 12 games in the span of seven days in Florida. It returned from spring break with a 10-2 record. (Katie Robichaud, photo)

Spring break in Florida sounds like a relaxing vacation for most college students, but for the women of the St. Michael's College softball team, spring break in Florida meant a week in the sun playing two games almost every day. The team left Florida with a 10-2 record, losing only twice to North Dakota.

“Our Florida trip was the best in team history finishing 10-2.  So I am very proud of how we played,” says Head Coach Robyn Newton.

Last Wednesday, the softball team split a double header against Franklin Pierce, making its overall record 14-4 and its Northeast-10 conference record 4-2.

Last week the team was ranked seventh in its division, but it slipped out of the top ten this week after a loss in its first game on Wednesday. The team pulled through, ending the second game with a 5-0 win.

Staying consistant and confident

Last year the team ended its season with a record of 18-24, and did not reach the playoffs. This season the team is hoping to make it to the postseason in May.

“We have really worked hard all preseason on improving our hitting and having more confidence at the plate,” Newton says.

Sophomore shortstop Ashley Harkins says she has noticed a difference in the team's hitting.

“Coach introduced a new hitting style that’s making our hitting a lot more constant,” Harkins says.

Since this is the best record the team has ever had at this point in the season, Newton keeps the players practicing the basics and especially focusing on their hitting and team confidence, she says.

Newton says she has had some positive coaching moments already this season.

“I am extremely proud of how well we have come back from behind in multiple games including Bentley in our opening weekend,” Newton says. “It just shows how much confidence the team has in each other that they can pull through anything."

The NE-10 regular season lasts approximately one month. The St. Michael’s team started its season with a double header against Merrimack on March 31, and is scheduled to end the season with a double header against Bryant on April 29.

“We had four games the first weekend in April and then not again until [April 11],” Newton says, “That means there are 24 more games left in only 3 weeks.  It is tough and the team has to really manage their time as they will be missing some classes at the end of the semester to get all the games in.”

Team work

"There isn't one individual this year who is making us perform so well," Head Coach Robyn Newton says. "We have all stepped up and come through." (Katie Robichaud, photo)

Senior Meggan Roberge was named player and pitcher of week by the NE-10 last week. She has been playing softball since fifth grade and pitching since sixth grade. St. Michael’s assistant coach Ralph Halbach has been her pitching coach since she began pitching.

Roberge is a captain on the team, and also holds the record for most strikeouts and shutouts in St. Michael’s history.

Along with Roberge, seniors Casey Brooks and Meg Currier are also captains.

Roberge says that in her first year she had really great seniors and her goal is to be the same for her younger teammates.

“We bonded pretty quickly as friends and as a mentor, all three captains have very different personalities so [teammates] can go to each one of us with different problems,” Roberge says.

Lindsay Bernard, a first-year from Scarborough,Maine says she has enjoyed the season.

“We laugh and have fun, and let go of things that have gone bad, and just get ready for the next game,” Bernard says. "We have become close."

Newton has seen the team bond and says she recognizes that they have confidence in each other.

“There isn't one individual this year who is making us perform so well. We have all stepped up and come through.  Each game there is a different person to hit a big hit or score,” Newton says. “That is why our batting order is so great this year at any given time anyone in our lineup can crush the ball and they can count on each other to get the job done.”

Getting to May

The team did not qualify for the playoffs last year, but Newton says the team expects to make it this season. (Katie Robichaud, photo)

Not making the playoffs last year was a disappointment, Roberge says.

And though the team had a great start, the winter weather lately has caused the team to not be able to practice much outside.

“It's important to keep focusing on the mental game," Roberge says. "The weather has been horrible. We have only had two practices outside.” Roberge says.

The playoffs will start on May 4, and Newton says the team expects to make it.

“Our goal from the start was to make the tournament this year," Newton says. "We are a top team in this very competitive conference and if we can battle through the cancellations and weather and stay positive and keep hitting, we will be there in May.”