As the season comes to a close STLCC’s women’s softball team played a strong game
By: CHRISTIAN HARGAS
Staff Writer
The STLCC women’s softball team has played 26 games in the 2015 season. As the season nears an end, the Lady Archers softball squad has amassed a 16-20 record.
First-year Head Coach Brad Wilson said the team is doing well, but there is always room for improvement.
“Run support really helps out our pitchers. You have to score to win and we need to make sure we score enough runs to win games,” Wilson said. “However, our offense is holding its own.”
STLCC has averaged 5.1 runs per game and is currently ranked 64th in the country for junior college Division II programs in runs scored (187).
Wilson said Maggie Wright was an unbelievable, offensive player last season.
“She (Wright) had close to 55 runs batted in. She was amazing last season,” Wilson said. “Offensively, that is a big person to lose. This year, we have more pitching depth.”
Pitcher Rebecca Vogt has a record of 4-4 with a 3.13 ERA and 36 strikeouts through 56 innings.
Fellow pitcher, Tiffany Link, has a record of 4-3 with a 2.41 ERA and 21 strikeouts through 52 innings.
The Lady Archers are currently in a three-game losing streak.
Wilson said team chemistry is very important.
“The good thing about this team, in particular, is no matter what the score, they never quit,” Wilson said. “We can be down by five or six runs and (batting) until the last out (is made). They still believe they have a chance of winning the game.”
Wilson said as a head coach, that type of team mentality is very important to have.
“I value that. I try to instill that in them and they just do not quit,” Wilson said. “There have been struggles here and there, but they try to do the best they can possibly do.”
Wilson said that his roster of 18-girls are a good group of ladies to be around.
There are 12 freshman and six sophomores on the team.
“They work hard and listen well,” Wilson said. “They know what they are supposed to do and they do it. They are every coach’s dream as far as I am concerned.”
Wilson said he recalls the April 1 game against East Central College, where STLCC pulled off a late comeback victory.
“We were trailing, 3-0, going into the last inning and we wound up winning, 4-3,” Wilson said. “They just did not quit.”
Wilson said the returning players are very important to the team’s overall makeup.
“You have those freshmen that are able to look up to (them) and that is important for us,” Wilson said. “Vogt is a great leader when she is on the field. Abbey Holtkamp is one of our returning offensive players. She leads the team in RBIs. Having veteran players come in and be good leaders is huge.”
Holtkamp, who also plays for the Lady Archer basketball team, leads her softball teammates with 27 RBIs.
Wilson said he believes STLCC has a chance to reach the Regional Tournament.
“That was our goal at the beginning of the year and that has not changed one bit,” Wilson said. “If they play to their ability, hit the way they know how to hit, play defense the way they have been instructed to and we get quality pitching, we will be the team to beat.”
