The Seton Hill University’s (SHU) women’s softball team started their season with many goals and plenty of challenges to look forward to, including the NCAA. The women’s four year head coach, Laura Cymmerman, has her own goals she sets for the team: “Playing consistently every game to keep intensity up for two ball games since we play double headers, and to never give up on any game. Also, to lead by example in everything they do,” said Cymmerman.
By Shellie Polly
Staff Writer
The Seton Hill University’s (SHU) women’s softball team started their season with many goals and plenty of challenges to look forward to, including the NCAA. The women’s four year head coach, Laura Cymmerman, has her own goals she sets for the team: “Playing consistently every game to keep intensity up for two ball games since we play double headers, and to never give up on any game. Also, to lead by example in everything they do,” said Cymmerman.
There are many new players to the team this year so the women are urged to step up and be leaders on the team. Practicing five to six days each week, the women are working their way to the top and helping each other out along the way. These women will win as a team and lose as a team.
“The team is handling the NCAA pretty well. There are a lot of rules and regulations that come with being in the NCAA, and they handle all of them very well,” said Cymmerman. Since this season is the first season the team is eligible for playoffs, the women are working extremely hard every day to make sure they make it there.
Amy Kirby, a senior, said, “It gives us something to play for.”
“I think our team is looking good this year. We have a lot of new players that are going to be a good addition to the team and we are working hard every day to prepare for the season because we want to make this season our best yet,” said Lyndsey Nusser, a sophomore.
There were many strong seniors the team lost last year such as; Holly Thomas, Merideth and Melanie Benson. “These girls all won all-conference honors and were leaders on the field and off. The [younger members] on the current team are looking to step right into their place and lead,” said Cymmerman. There are some great freshman players that will help out just as the seniors did. The new freshmen this season are Liz Piekut, Rachel Eaglehouse, Jenna Vavra, Ally Coy, Donielle Bean, Jessi DiVitorrio and Lisa Kaczynski.
The freshmen were welcomed to the team and everyone made getting to know each other simple. Jenna Vavra, a freshman, said, “Everyone is a new teammate for me, but the team made the first few days of practice so comfortable and accepted the freshmen that it didn’t take long to get used to the girls.”
This year’s captains are senior Erika Yates and sophomore Louanne Weigand. Liz Piekut, a freshman, said, “Erika is amazing on the field and Louanne is great, and an unbelievable pitcher.”
There are four seniors on the team this year: Kirby, Denamarie Ercolani, Yates and Jessica Bobb, and they plan to end the season strong and leave an influence on the team as the seniors before them have.
“Everyone on the team is different in their own personal way, a way in which should not change. Many hands make light work, if everyone leads a little bit then we can all look upon one another for leadership,” said Kirby.