 "Photo: Sarah Blecha")
The Ottawa University softball team’s overall record is 18-14 and 6-2 in conference, and the team hit seven straight wins by knocking off Southwestern College on April 18.
The streak helped Amber Koons, senior elementary education major and third baseman, pick up her 100th career softball victory as a Lady Brave.
“This season we played against many ranked teams to prepare us for conference,” Koons said. “This led us to some tough games but we pulled through as a team and came up with some wins.”
Leaving the program is also on Koons’ mind.
“I loved playing with the girls these last couple years, some of the best teammates I have had,” she added. “We are getting ready to take on conference and as long as we stick together I believe that we will be successful.”
While the season was still in progress, Samantha Skinner, junior education major was looking forward to the conference tournament.
“The season is going good and I’m hoping we do well in the conference tournament coming up,”
The team, with only two seniors, had anticipated a performance at a high expectation and end the season on a high note prior to the tournament.
“Right now I expect to finish the season at number two or three going into the tournament,” Josie Hildebrand, senior history major, said. “We have already lost 2 conference games so being number one is out of the question unless the two teams ahead of us begin losing rapidly.”
Hildebrand wasn’t worried about entering the tournament at a third seed because that would result in the team not having to play the top seeds on the first day.
“I believe that we have the talent, ability and want to win the tournament but, mostly, we all have to be on the same page for the tournament to be successful,” Hildebrand said.
Unfortunately, the road for the Lady Braves fell short during the KCAC tournament held at Bethany College that began on May 1.
The Lady Braves deafeated both Kansas Wesleyan 5-1 and Bethany College 3-1 on the first day of competition.
The second day of the tournment proved to be a more trying experience. The ladies fell to Friends University 8-0 and Bethany College 4-1, placing the Lady Braves third in the KCAC. As a result, the ladies will not be going to Nationals.
The Lady Braves finished there season with a 4-18 overall record, 12-6 in the KCAC.
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