{"id":1294,"date":"2018-07-24T22:36:33","date_gmt":"2018-07-24T22:36:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/yearbook\/?page_id=1294"},"modified":"2019-06-30T21:34:59","modified_gmt":"2019-07-01T02:34:59","slug":"softball-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/yearbook\/2018\/07\/24\/softball-2017\/","title":{"rendered":"Softball 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"

By: Janel Darnell<\/span><\/p>\n

For Western\u2019s softball team<\/a>, high quality and hard work are the base standards. The Griffons\u2019 official season ran mid-January through May, but they were active on average six days a week. Their scheduled season consists of tournaments, conference play and post-season play-offs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In order to prepare for the spring season, the team spent many hours each week practicing and weightlifting both during and off-season.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur off-season workouts involve lifting and hitting throughout the summer and practices and scrimmages in the fall. We also train in the weight room and have individual softball workouts in the fall. We continue that lifting\/conditioning regime into winter break as well as softball workouts,\u201d said Morgan Rathman<\/a>, senior outfielder.<\/span><\/p>\n

The rigorous workout regime payed off for junior pitcher Barbara Billingsley<\/a>, who <\/span>received \u201cBest MIAA Pitcher of the Week\u201d award during her season at Western.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI always know my team is behind me. Things are starting to come to together and I\u2019m excited for what the rest of the season (post-season play) has in store for us,\u201d said Billingsley. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While the hardwork the girls put in this year was not in vain, head coach Jennifer Trotter<\/a>, kept pushing her girls to the next level through her high expectations. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Our season has had ups that have met my expectations and downs that have fallen short of my expectations.\u00a0 My hope going forward is that our outcome in our post season tournaments will exceed expectations and finish our season on its highest note,\u201d Trotter said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Six starters graduated this spring, making it even more important that underclassmen continue the standards set in place.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Incoming freshman Violet Holcomb will be new to the team this year, but has already been exposed to the team\u2019s expectations. She practiced with the girls and was used as a utility player for the team for this past spring.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m most excited to travel with the team and see what the atmosphere is like at the different fields,\u201d said Holcomb.<\/span><\/p>\n

Western’s girls finished 38-20<\/a> overall and 16-10 in the MIAA.<\/p>\n\n\t\t