Softball team bats for leadership and unity

Whether it’s the whistle of the wind from the swinging of a bat or the crack of the ball sailing to the outfield, Seton Hill University’s (SHU) softball team can be heard cheering and celebrating. Victory has been declared by the softball team many times this year already.
Beginning with spring break down in Georgia, the SHU softball team claimed a record of 4-4.


By Tiffany Gilbert,
Center Spread Editor
Chris Ulicne,
Photographer
Whether it’s the whistle of the wind from the swinging of a bat or the crack of the ball sailing to the outfield, Seton Hill University’s (SHU) softball team can be heard cheering and celebrating. Victory has been declared by the softball team many times this year already.
Beginning with spring break down in Georgia, the SHU softball team claimed a record of 4-4.
Head coach Laura Cymmerman said, �The first game was very successful, everybody got playing time. The second game, we played a conference team which was good. For the first time out on the dirt, we did okay, not too many defensive errors and we hit the ball well.�
SHU softball team has moved to Division II ultimately presenting higher competition.
As for the toughest opponents, Cymmerman said, �Shippensburg University and West Virginia Wesleyan will present good teams, however Lenoir Rhyne and Gannon University are nationally ranked.�
In all hopes to claim victory over such teams, there are five new freshman ready to carry out the responsibility. Maggie Jones, Jessica Bobb, Nicole Cribbs, Amanda Horner, and Sandra Edmiston are the new additions, joining the existing team.
�I?have no problem playing freshmen if they�re better than everyone else,� said Cymmerman.
The nine starting players are junior Melanie Benson as catcher, senior Brittany Patton as pitcher, senior Amber Dietelbach at first base, sophomore Erika Yates at second base, freshman Maggie Jones at shortstop (and second base), junior Meredith Benson at third base, junior Holly Thomas in left field, senior Jaime Clark in center, and sophomore Denamarie Ercolani and junior Sarah Tollison in right field.
With many players and 56 games to be played this season, leadership on a team is crucial.
�I think leadership starts out with coach Cymmerman. She is a great coach and has totally turned around the problems I�ve struggled with,� said Maggie Jones, a freshman shortstop and second baseman.
�I think she’s one of the only coaches who conditions with the team and is a role model for us. There is great senior leadership and even girls who are on the bench help lead the team by supporting and cheering for their teammates,� added Jones.
�I would say there are people at times that step up more than others but for the most part everyone gives a little piece of leadership in their own way,� said Jaime Clark, a senior outfielder.
�Heather Patton is an anchor because she’s the lead off batter, and sets the tone for the game. Melanie Benson is a leader as catcher who has to be boss and see the field, and picks our players� heads up when they�re down,� said Cymmerman.
�Brittany Patton is mentally tough on the mound. Meredith Benson is persistent and Jaime Clark leads by example and exemplifies the senior leadership,� Cymmerman added.
Although, the season has just begun, the team has already become supportive of one another.
�I feel there is team unity because when a player makes a mistake and gets down on themselves, there is always one person picking that player up. We play well together and are comfortable around each other. We give constructive advice to each other.
We win and lose as a team,� Jones said.
�For the most part, we are all friends and when we step out on the field its all about softball and being the winning team,� Clark said.
The girls �party together� and get along well, said Cymmerman.
�They�re pretty receptive of new teammates,� she added.
Cymmerman also said that some of the team’s future plans include a possible junior varsity team to give younger players the opportunity to play more.
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