Softball improved in all aspects of the game since last season
By Eric Nelson
This season, it is clear that all the hard work has finally started to pay off for the Santa Clara softball team. After only winning four games last year, the Broncos have already picked up eight victories this season prior to leaping into conference play, giving them an 8-15 record.
"This year we are really competing with teams," says sophomore shortstop Kristin Welsh.
Welsh, who is currently batting .367 with two home runs and 10 RBIs, cannot seem to stress how much of an improvement this team has seen so far.
Part of this growing success can be attributed to stronger team chemistry. This year's team returned every single player besides one, and with the addition of a number of key freshmen, things are finally starting to look up. Welsh believes that the three-day retreat the team took earlier this year to learn more about each other has really started to pay off.
Despite their growing success, the women's softball team continues to play a backseat role in Santa Clara athletics. Due to their lack of access to a regulation softball field, they are forced to host home games away, at West Valley Junior College.
"We don't have the facilities that other teams have, and quite honestly it really makes a difference," commented sophomore outfielder Christine Prochnow.
Due to this, the Broncos find themselves playing a number of tournaments locally but have nevertheless experienced noticeable success beating Princeton 8-6 and sending a hard fought game with BYU into extra innings.
"Last year we would have almost every other game called off because of the eight run rule in the fifth inning, but this year it has only happened once despite the fact that we are playing good teams," says Welsh.
On the field, success comes from the clutch hitting and leadership that sophomore outfielder Brianna Knight has provided, and the high level of conditioning that has become synonymous with this team.
With 5 a.m. weight-lifting followed by three hours of practice on both Wednesdays and Fridays, as well as practice six times a week, it is little wonder that the Broncos find themselves in better shape than every team they play.
"People don't understand how much work we really put in," says Welsh. "It's a really good feeling to see that all of those early mornings sessions and extra hours start to pay off on the field."
The team has also benefitted from a couple standout freshmen pitchers and the recent superb play of senior pitcher Kaitlyn Rauschnot.
Rauschnot received the honor of being named the Pacific Coast Softball Conference Player of the Week following her impressive outings at the Stanford Invitational. Rauschnot was tuned in on the mound, pitching 17.1 innings without giving up an earned run to lead the Broncos to a 3-1 record at the invitational.
With conference play in sight, Santa Clara figures it is their turn to make a statement.
"If people don't bring their game against us this year, I think we're really going to surprise some people," says Prochnow.
The team will look to forget their recent 4-2 loss to San Jose State when they play Sacramento State on Saturday.
Contact Eric Nelson at ehnelson@scu.edu or (408) 551-1918.