Softball coach reflects on two for two

After finishing with a 39-7 overall record, 23-1 regional record and a run for the fourth place in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges tournament in the 2013 season, Head Coach Leah Francis and her softball team is looking forward to climbing back to where they were last year and seeking to finish stronger in the NWAACC tournament. As the season begins, the team has been going through a rough start having an 18-11 overall record and 7-2 record in league play. During the Crossover Tourney in April in Mount Vernon, WA, the Bulldogs were able to finish winning two games against Blue Mountain in their opener and against Clark in their last game of the tourney; however, they lost two games against Treasure Valley and Chemeketa. “At the crossover, we were a bit inconsistent in our play,” said Francis. “In the games we won, we pitched well and scored a bunch of runs. In the games we lost, our bats were quiet and our pitching [and] defense a bit more inconsistent. We are continuing to work hard to improve on our consistency at the plate, on the mound and in the field.”
There have been changes made to the team, mostly regarding the roster where young freshmen have joined. Out of the 19 players,eight of them are freshmen. “This year, we do have a younger squad on the field compared to last year,” said Francis. According to Francis, during the time on the pitch the team leaders were the two sophomore pitchers Brielle Bray and Hannah Sauget, who were returners from last year’s amazing run. Francis said she relies on these two players to provide steadfastness and consistency in their play while working to control the game through their pitches. There are many aspects of the game that Francis thinks the team needs to improve on, but there is only one thing that she wants everybody to be focused on, which is consistency. “At this point in the season, being consistent and making quick adjustments will be our biggest key to winning games. We have the abilities and talent to win games; we just need to be more consistent in our execution,”Francis emphasized. “As a staff and a team, we have been working very hard every day to continue to improve upon our play, with the goal of peaking at the NWAACC tournament and fighting for an NWAACC title.” The team will face Olympic on April 25 and Edmonds on April 29, closing the month of April.
Francis is looking to step up their game every single day as they approach the NWAACC tournament on May 16-19. “This year will be a battle at the NWAACC tournament,” he said. “There are a number of teams that are very equal in their talent and success this year. If we play hard, can be consistent and make quick adjustments, especially at the plate,then we have a shot to go a long way at the tournament. I believe in the talent and potential of this team and believe we will have an opportunity to make some noise at [the] NWAACC. ”For more information about upcoming games can be found on their Facebook page.