Softball team prepares to defend title

\After winning the KCAC championship in 2010 the Ottawa University softball team has begun offseason training for the next season, hoping to continue what they have started.

Head coach Jay Kahnt said that the team should be working for nothing less than what they had last year.

"I think because of our success from last year, our goal from day one is to win conference again and get back to the national tournament," he said. "The returners are ready to get back in and win and the newcomers are excited to be a part of something special."

Kahnt said from October to November the ladies have been doing a lot of conditioning type drills ranging from sprints to long distance running and weightlifting. They have different position groups working on different specific skills.

For example, some of the position players work on speed, while the hitters group would work on strength.

"Every group's different to help better the team," Kahnt said.

Sophomore infielder Amanda Martinsen said the workouts can be challenging, but the team is preparing even more than they had in the past, because it will be harder to win when everyone knows how good they are.

"We have worked twice as hard as we did last season," she said. "We have a target on our back now, so knowing that people have it out for us makes us want to work even harder."

Junior infielder Lindsey Adams said she thinks the team is working hard with the same feeling of being targeted by the rest of the conference.

"We should be just as good or better because we have a target on our back now, so we're working in regards to that," she said.

Kahnt said he thinks the team has showed good work ethic as well so far.

"This team's been great so far," he said. "They come to conditioning every day to get better and they go 100 percent. They all have a goal of what it takes to win, not because the coaches are yelling, but that's what they want."

Even coach Kahnt can't help but feel like all eyes will be on the Lady Braves this season.

"We have a target on our backs, but we have a chance to repeat," he said. "I'm very pleased with our work ethic."

Adams did say the team has to work on some things, like team chemistry.

"That's a work in progress," she said. "We will figure it out come season."

Practices for the team will start Jan. 17.

Coach Kahnt says the team's approach will be no different than it is now, which is to continue to get better.

"Our approach is to come in and get better on a daily basis," he said. "We know we have to work hard every day to defend the conference title and get a national title."