Author: Emily Phillips
After a rough start to their season with six straight losses, the Tiger Softball team has won 11 of their last 14 games, now holding an overall record of 11-9 and conference record of 1-7. The team still has half its season to play and is optimistic about the momentum they gained.
“There’s no denying the fact that Oxy Softball has had our share of losses for a while,” Britt Karp (senior) said. “I can only speak to the past four years and I know that winning has not been something we’ve done a lot of. I think because of that, we don’t always go out expecting to win. This kept us sitting back on our heels, on the defensive with teams.”
However, the team’s new positive attitude and mental focus going into each game has been the key difference between their wins and losses.
“We started out with a few losses this season, but we have shown continual growth and development which led us to our wins,” Rebecca Nashleanas (senior) said. “Everyone has been working hard in practice and making little adjustments.” For Kimi Elguea (junior), an increased mental toughness has been an essential strength in recent games. “Every practice, particularly game, I try to mentally stay on top of the batters. The game is more mental than physical, which is the most difficult part,” she said.
Gabriel Chavez (sophomore) noted that team chemistry and having coaches Jodie Cox and Molly Chesebro for the second year in a row has dramatically improved the team. Others added that this year’s team has a lot more talent than in the past. Recruiting by Cox and Chesebro has added to the skill of the program.
“A huge addition to the team is the coaching,” Karp said. “Our coaches have a lot of experience playing and coaching and so they are able to advise us well and know what to do to advance our skills the most. This I think is also thanks to [Athletic Director] Jaime Hoffman who seems to be responsible for focusing more attention and resources on softball than it has had in the past.”
Following two losses against SCIAC co-leader Redlands on Saturday, the Tigers regained their focus and won a pair of non-conference games against Menlo College on Sunday, coming from behind to win 4-3 and 7-4. The wins were team efforts, as six different Tigers had multi-hit games.
“Every single person has a pivotal role on the team,” Nashleanas said.
Elguea pitched for the Tigers in the second game, winning her fifth victory of the season in her first season back in the game. She gives credit to the Tiger catchers for her mental focus.
“When pitching, my catcher, Alyssa Escalante calls multiple time-outs when I’m struggling to reassure that the next pitch will be a strike,” she said.
The Tigers will take-on their last non-conference opponent, Lewis & Clark, at Bell Field March 25 before playing 16 more conference match-ups.
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