April 21 , 2006

MC Softball proves there is no ‘I’ in team

By DREW BONIFANT
atb001@marietta.edu

There are two things about sports that always come to mind when discussing them. Number one, in all sports, there is the unwritten rule that there is no ‘I’ in team. And number two, in college sports, there is a formula. It’s year-tested and result-proven, and it rarely ever changes.

That formula says that freshmen contribute sparingly, while taking the time to learn the various systems and schemes that the team has in place. Their roles increase as their careers roll on. Eventually, by their junior and senior years, they’re ready to lead the team and take responsibility for the team’s success, or failure.

So when the Marietta College Softball team marched into the 2006 season with only six upperclassmen, two seniors and four juniors, that year-tested and results-proven formula predicted an up-and-down season with just as much opportunity for inspiring victories as frustrating defeats. The softball team wasn’t expected to be a success.

However, as of April 11, three days after a sweep over Heidelberg on the road, the Pioneers have done nothing but prove the formula wrong. They’ve racked up 23 wins in 26 games, earned a No. 10 ranking, and secured themselves as one of the most feared and respected teams in the OAC.

The big secret behind the 2006 Pioneers is the secret behind any successful team. The upperclassmen are performing. Junior Jenny Carroll leads the team with a .418 batting average, 11 walks and a remarkable .489 on-base percentage. Junior Lindsey Romick is second on the team with a .385 batting average and leads the team with 23 RBI.

These two are also getting a lot of help from the underclassmen, who are more than pulling their weight. Sophomore Brandy Jacob is batting .363, while freshman Christina DeMoss is batting .349 and is second with 19 RBI.
Despite these standout players, softball is remains a team sport. Every member of the team contributes. Seven of the starting nine are batting over .300, and freshman Emily McComb, at .291, leads the team with 20 runs and 12 steals.

Batting is one glorified part of softball, but it is not the only driving force behind the Women’s Etta Express. Pitching has played an equally important role in the Lady Pioneer’s success thus far. Junior Kristen Quintana leads the team with a stunning 0.80 ERA in 95.2 innings, en route to a 13-2 record. DeMoss has shown strong with a 1.67 ERA in 63 innings, along with an 8-1 record.

Even though some say that a team with a large percentage of upperclassmen will succeed more than a younger squad, a team still needs to receive strong performances from its younger players as well.

The Pioneers have done just that. By playing in accordance with this tried-and-true formula, they have defied it as well. Class rank has nothing to do with performance and success.