The Oberlin Review
<< Front page Sports April 14, 2006

Softball Trying to Get Back to Basics

The Oberlin College softball team has competed against its fair share of conference teams in the past week. On Tuesday, April 11, the team played against the College of Wooster and Denison University. This week, the team traveled to Meadville, Penn. to take on the Allegheny Gators. The Yeowomen put up a solid fight but fell in game one 14-0 and 8-0 in game two.

Head Coach Adrienne Davis later commented that the doubleheader against Wooster proved to be the team’s best effort against a conference school so far this year. The first game remained close for the first four innings, but the Wooster hitters hammered the ball and it proved to be too much for the Yeowomen. They fell 13-4 and 11-1.

First-year Michelle Zanni pitched all seven innings, while only allowing five runs on 15 hits. She remains positive about the upcoming season.

“Our hitting has been improving with every game, so the rest of the season looks pretty positive.  In practices we work on situational drills, such as bunt coverages and throwing drills for the outfield,” she said. 

The game against Denison was a bit more challenging for the team. The OC squad was shut out 8-0 and 9-0.

“Our team can play much better than they have been, they just need to do everything with confidence and know that they can win,” said Coach Davis after the game.

Going into the game against Allegheny, the team focused on making some small changes to improve communication and work ethic. Coach Davis explained before the Allegheny game that her number one goal was to “get the first batter of each inning out. That is one of the best things we can do on defense, as it already limits what the offense can do.”

The two games against the Gators, one of the best teams in the conference, proved tough. Senior pitcher Kate Oberg started game two. She pitched a solid five innings, giving up only ten hits and a walk. Other highlights included junior Alie Plotsky’s hits in both games and her stolen base.

“We lost both games, but the second game went much better than the first,” said Zanni.

Oberlin is currently 0-6 in the NCAC, but the ten team conference tends to be very strong. In the past, Allegheny has been nationally ranked, with Denison and Ohio Wesleyan typically trailing close behind. The Gators were the conference champions last season while Ohio Wesleyan University won the conference during the regular season. The Yeowomen travel to Delaware, Ohio on Saturday to take on the Bishops of Ohio Wesleyan at 1 p.m.
 
 

   

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