‘Back to basics’ is the theme of pre-season preparation for regionals
BY : MELISSA WILKINSON
Editor-in-Chief
Vengeance is this season’s motivation to win, said Archers softball first baseman Sarah Goers.
According to Goers, her team is still reeling from last year’s loss to Cottey College. It was a well-played game with plenty of home runs and opportunities to showcase the Archers’ offensive and defensive skills. Ultimately, said Goers, it came down to “who was better.” The win would have won regionals for the Archers and earned them a place in the national competition.
“Losing to Cottey really took a hit,” said Goers. “I know a lot of the sophomores are out for blood this year.”
Head Coach Kristi Swiderski said it’s that very drive that keeps her team fighting through pre-season.
“They want to win. They want to hit the ball far. They show up to practice every day,” said Swiderski. “When we started the program, we talked about the beginning of a new legacy. The girls really bought into that. They finished last year 38-10 and fifteenth in the country. I think they really got a taste of what success is like and they want to build on that. They’re wanting to continue that legacy and outdo last year.”
Swiderski has been coaching for the Archers for the past two years. Before STLCC she coached softball at UMSL in the early to mid 1990’s, quitting to take a full-time position and become a mom. It wasn’t until a personal tragedy that she rejoined the world of softball.
“Our son died of brain cancer in 2015. That was when the [Archers] coach resigned and we just kind of walked into it,” said Swiderski. “They had been wanting us to take over for a while but we just couldn’t grip it. When I say we I mean me and my husband because we’re a packaged deal.”
Swiderski’s husband, Joe, is an assistant coach for Archers softball. He is also the athletic facilities supervisor at Meramec. Swiderski says they coach together “all the time.” Outside of Meramec, they also coach three other teams in a program the couple started: the St. Louis Stix.
According to Goers, both Swiderskis consider the team their children, both on and off the field.
“We call them Mom and Dad,”
said Goers.
Though the Archers have good defense, said Swiderski, their offense is where their true power lies. Her team is composed of a “nice balance of been-there-done-that sophomores
and freshmen.”
Among Swiderski’s sophomores to watch are centerfielder Anna Counts and outfielder Morgan Moss.
“Anna was an all conference shortstop last year. She’s got incredible speed and she chases down balls that other outfielders don’t,” said Swiderski. “Transfer Morgan Moss [has] got some killer power. The other day she hit five over the fence on five pitches.”
A sophomore herself, Goers has seen numerous players come and go. She said what makes the current team unique is the number of multitalented players.
“We definitely have more people who can play different positions. Moving people around creates a different way of playing the game rather than each person playing one position,”
said Goers.
According to catcher and third baseman Haley Fisher, also a sophomore, the team’s atmosphere changed with the addition of many new freshman, but that didn’t stop the team from growing close through their
pre-season practice.
“We’ve made a lot of improvements over this winter and we’re ready to start up in March,” said Fisher. “We’ve been working on a lot of our basic fundamentals. Kind of starting over and just really focusing on our momentum to carry on into the game.”
Fisher said the team has only been able to practice outside three times this semester, hosting most of their sessions in Meramec’s gymnasium. Due to the limited space, the team sets up special enclosed practice areas where they can hit the ball without risk of
causing damage.
“Every time we’re indoors all of it gets set up,” said Fisher. “The cage, our nets. We set up a little field area. We actually do our front toss in there…It just gives us an area where we’re not going to hit things, break lights and all that.”
Aside from Cottey, Fisher’s list of teams to beat include East Central, Mineral Area and St. Charles Community College. Despite the long road ahead, Fisher said she isn’t worried about her team’s chances for regionals.
“I really like the coaches and the connection we have on this team is fun and outgoing,” said Fisher. “I think we’ll be really good this year.”
The Archers’ 2018 season starts officially on Mar. 5.
