By Eustace Q. Browne
Staff Writer
The St. Bonaventure softball team (3-16) returns home after a 1-3 showing in the Lady Pirates Classic which took place on March 8-9. The Bonnies lost their first three games of the tournament before salvaging the fourth game against Drexel (3-7) in the second game of a double header.
Freshman Kristen Hickling shutout Drexel 3-0 in their second contest of the day. The Bonnies scored three runs on RBIs by junior third baseman Grace Rooney, senior designated hitter Christine Watson and junior outfielder Kelli Rohan.
The Bonnies however, are still struggling; they’re sitting on a 3-16 record with A-10 conference games on the horizon. Rohan said a multitude of factors have led to the Bonnies record.
“We started down in Florida playing outside for the first time against teams that have been practicing outside for a while now, and we’ve put up a pretty good fight,” she said. “There’s also little things here and there that seem to never go our way in games that I think change how some of the games have ended.”
Rohan went on to point out the team is better than its record and is not using any excuses to justify their losses.
“Our record doesn’t really show you how we are as a team,” she said “I’m not making excuses, but now that we’ve played good competition I think we are ready, and things will start going in our favor.”
The sentiment that Bonnies are better than their record is commonplace around the team. Coach Michael Threehouse has repeatedly reaffirmed that despite his team’s poor record, the Bonnies are constantly improving. A lot of the players share Threehouse’s view, including sophomore shortstop Emily McDonough.
“We got off to a rough start, but things are starting to come together just in time for our A-10 games,” McDonough said. “I feel confident in coach’s prediction.”
When asked whether the team was improving as whole, she pointed out they were getting better with each practice.
“Our team is improving every day,” she said. “We are learning and growing as a whole and our team is starting to settle into our roles. “
Rohan said the team has improved now and that it will continue to improve as long as they play with maximum effort.
“You can definitely see the team getting better every game, we have been playing some really great teams who have been playing outside for a while,” she said.” “So yes I do agree with coach 100 percent on saying the results will come. As long as we keep playing full throttle and leaving everything on the field I know we can be a successful team.”
Rohan and McDonough have done their part so far this season. They lead the Bonnies in average and on-base percentage and slugging percentage, respectively. However, the team is also getting a strong contribution from sophomore first baseman Katie Sinclair who is hitting .313 this season
Rohan and McDonough pointed out a couple of reasons why they’ve had such success this season but their biggest answer was simply hard work.
“Hard work during the off season has been a crucial part of my success so far this season and I hope to get better every day,” McDonough said.
Rohan tabbed her work with the coaching staff as a big reason for her success this season.
“Last year I had to redshirt after tearing my ACL in the fall which made me realize how much I really wanted to be out there playing,” Rohan said. “Now that I’ve had the opportunity to get back on the field, I’ve just been trying to have fun and help the team out any way that I can. The coaching staff has done a great job working with me up at the plate and I just try to take in everything I can and apply it in the game.”
The Bonnies have a 10-day hiatus before they take the field in Philadelphia, Pa. against La Salle in what will be the Bonnies first conference game.
“Now that we have a couple of tournaments under our belt, I think we are ready for A-10 play,” said Rohan.
browneeq11@bonaventure.edu
