Focusing on senior leadership, a young Ball State softball team begins their fall season hoping to establish themselves as a team.
"Senior leadership was one of the things we were missing last year and are really trying to establish now, as well as building team trust and having a cohesive team unit," head coach Terri Laux said. "Along those same lines, we hope that the returning players learn from last year and we go in a different direction."
The Cards began the fall season Sept. 28 at the Purdue Fall Invitational where they lost their first game 9-1 to the host Boilermakers, but won the second 4-1 against Indiana Tech.
With seven freshmen and one new walk-on junior, the team will be looking to build experience for the younger players as they replace a strong senior class that included the 2002 Mid-American Conference Player of the Year Katie Shea.
"I don't think you can replace a player like Katie. You really just try to find kids that have the same intangibles that she does and hopefully they can reach that same level," Laux said.
"The fall season is all about the younger kids getting their feet wet. Also, just working different lineups and seeing what direction we need to head into. I don't put too much weight on wins and losses."
Returning from sitting out all of last year with an injury, junior eligible Randi Freese boosts the pitching staff. Both offensive and defensive improvement as well as pitching will be stressed throughout the fall season.
"I think we need to be more consistent all around: on both offense and defense. Also, working on the fundamentals and getting our young kids used to the game at this level," Laux said.
The rest of the fall season includes the IUPUI Tournament Oct. 4-5, Butler at home in a doubleheader Oct. 10, the Red & White Scrimmage game at home Oct. 11 and the Alumni Game Oct. 17.
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