Spring is finally here, which means the softball season is right around the corner. American International College’s softball team has been preparing all winter for their upcoming season. Head coach Shalise Tolentino and assistant coach Matthew Fletcher give us an inside scoop on what is expected from the team this season. Julia Krigsman, a sophomore pitcher and first baseman, gives us a player’s perspective on how she is feeling about the upcoming season.
In the past years, AIC softball has not had a lot of success. The team has suffered from outside issues affecting their performance. However, as preseason slowly comes to an end, the Yellow Jackets are ready to prove to the Northeast-10 Conference that this is a different team.
This year the coaching staff and the players have held themselves to a higher standard so they can perform better. Practices have been running differently and more efficiently. Players have been more attentive to detail and have been giving it their all each practice.
Coach Tolentino expressed her expectations for the team this year. “I want this team to be confident in their abilities and preparation and not be afraid to fail,” Tolentino said. “Their expectation is for each player to leave it all out on the field every day we have the privilege of playing this sport.”
The team has a lot of goals for this season, one being to increase the offensive capabilities of the team. Last season, the Yellow Jackets lost fifteen games by two runs or fewer; the team is looking to decrease that number of games this season. Another goal for the team is to lower the team earned run average (ERA).
Coach Fletcher has been working with the pitchers all winter to help them prepare for the season. He has also worked with the catchers to help them with their skills, so the team gets closer strike calls.
The last goal for the Yellow Jackets is to increase the team’s batting average by thirty points. This will help them be more successful and win more games.
Besides working on improving the softball aspect, the Yellow Jackets have been working to improve the team culture. In the past season, there were a lot of outside issues and problems that affected the team culture. These problems had been going on for years within the program. However, this season is the start of a new culture that makes everyone on the team feel that they are a part of a family.
Coach Fletcher described how he was feeling about the season. “Last season was so traumatic,” Fletcher said, “for players and coaches alike. But with a hard reset of team culture and the departure of some sources of negativity from the team, I believe that AIC softball is primed to reach new heights.”
As the days go by and the team gets closer to the first games, a lot of emotions are running through the players: excitement for the season to start and nervousness for what is to come for the upcoming season. However, the players are ready to see if their preparation will pay off.
The Yellow Jackets’ first games will be in Florida, where they are heading for spring training. The Florida trip allows the team to test their preparation and to have team bonding. The team will be playing a total of eight games while down in Florida.
Sophomore Julia Krijgsman said she is looking forward to the trip. “Florida is a great experience,” she said. It is an opportunity for her to “get bonding time between my teammates and me. I’m excited to play the sport I love and with my teammates I love.”
All the preparation and hard work is now done for the team as they leave for Florida on Sunday, March 10. Now all the team can do is leave it all out on the field and give it all their effort. Will the team be more successful compared to previous years?
Story continues below advertisement
