2/27/12

This week of practice may get a little bit crazy with all of the schedule changes! We are supposed to have late practices all week, but if we can get any time outside that will be changing. Tonight we were able to practice on the turf from 6:30-8:30. Even though it was a little on the cold side (and I mean cold!), it was really nice to be able to take full field, bat against the pitchers, and work on different situations. We all got a lot out of this practice.

Later on this week we are hoping to be practicing on our own field! Right now we are just waiting for some of the water to dry up. This has been a warm winter and it is making for nice pre-season practice. Less than two weeks and we will be flying to Florida! Can't wait to play in the 80 degree weather instead of this 30 degree weather :)

Danielle

Spring Break

I can't believe we only have two more weeks of practice untill Spring Break!!
This semester is flying by. This past week has been crazy.  Between all the rain,sun,snow,exams,practice, and lifting this week was hectic, but that is what Wooster is all about. 
But anyway Spring Break is right around the corner and all I can think about is the sun and the softball!! Florida is the best two weeks of the year!

2/21/12

Welp, it snowed once again today! Luckily we weren't planning on practicing outside like the baseball team was. This week we have practice at 6 am, but luckily on Tuesday and Thursday we are just lifting so we can all meet at the gym at 4 pm. It is really nice in the Scot Center since they renovated the old weight room and there is now plenty of room for all of us to complete the lift. Tomorrow is our last 6 am since Friday we are hoping to practice outside on the turf! Let's just hope that it doesn't rain, or even worse, snow!

Things are really coming together as time goes by. Soon enough it will be Spring Break and we will be starting our season in Florida! I can't wait to see the sun and based on recent weather reports it has been around 80 degrees in Fort Myers. Today after we finished lifting we found out our lip sync groups. Lip sync is one of the fun team activities we do in Florida. The team is divided up into four groups and each groups puts together a song (usually a mash-up) and then choreographs a dance. One night when we are in Florida, we will have lip sync after team dinner. Last year it was so cool to see what everyone came up with and to watch different teammates break it down.

Well back to homework I go.. Only 2.5 more weeks til Spring Break!!

-Danielle

2/13/12

It snowed once again this weekend and has been pretty chilly. This week we will be practicing from 10 to midnight, which isn't the best practice time, but I guess it could always be worse. We have been able to take full field in Gault, which is part of the new addition in the Scot Center. The new cages have to be fixed before we can use them anymore, but soon they will be up and running!

This week is pretty busy academically. I have a spanish paper and lab report due on Wednesday and a paper for my religion class due on Friday. As long as I am productive, it shouldn't be too rough. Spring break is getting closer and closer though! I cannot wait to go to Florida and start playing in the dirt.

-Danielle

Preview

Large Group of Returning Starters Look to Lead Scots to NCAC Tourney

Rachel Frank had a career-year in 2011, and is one of four seniors on the roster this spring.

Following a respectable 16-win season which saw The College of Wooster lose 10 games by two runs or less, the Scots have reason to believe they can win more close games in 2012, as they return seven of their top-nine hitters and all three of their starting pitchers from a team that won three of its last four games a season ago.
"We want to get back to 2010 form," said 13th-year head coach Lori Schimmel, whose team won 20 games and broke several school records that year. "Last season (2011) was tough mentally, with all the close games, not to mention the large number of rain outs and rescheduling we had to do…but those experiences should help us this year. We're ready to bounce back, and we know what we have to do to get where we want to be."
Offensively, the Scots will be led by all-North Coast Athletic Conference picks Lauren Swinehart and Erica Villa, who provide a nice 1-2 punch near the top of the order.
"Lauren was healthy last year, and when she's healthy, she is capable of doing a lot of good things for us," said Schimmel. "We know that she can hit, and she's got a cannon for an arm, but she's the type of player who you could put anywhere out there and she could help your team."
Swinehart was voted second-team all-NCAC after leading the Scots in most statistical categories, including batting average (.324), hits (33), home runs (4), doubles (7), RBI (13), and runs scored (21). She also chipped in seven stolen bases and made some big plays in left field, and will likely be locked into the No. 3 hole yet again on Schimmel's lineup card.
Villa, who was an honorable mention pick on the all-conference team, batted .267 on the season, but that number increased to a team-leading .315 with runners on base. The left-handed hitter also scored 12 runs and stole eight bases, with the latter expected to increase this year, as Schimmel wants the team to be even more aggressive on the base paths.
"At the plate, Erica is a triple threat…she can take a full swing, slap, or drag," said Schimmel. "And as a base runner, she's not afraid to take off. She can beat you in a lot of ways."
Schimmel will welcome back several other veterans, including Rachel Frank, Danielle Grooms, and pitchers Jenn Horton and Gina Pirolozzi, who are also key contributors at the plate.
Frank, a three-year starter in the outfield, had her most productive season a year ago, hitting .272 with 11 runs scored. Grooms, who played substantially at both catcher and first base, also posted a .272 batting average, and showed power potential with six doubles and seven RBI.
Horton tied for the team-lead with 13 RBI, while Pirolozzi drew 18 walks and totaled six extra-base hits coming in the form of four doubles and two homers.
Other returnees competing for a spot in the lineup include seniors Gwen Davis and Marissa Stover, as well as sophomores Aundrea Atwell, Kasie Fagan, and Tiarra Patton.
The pitching staff has remained completely intact, with Horton and Pirolozzi expected to log the majority of the innings, but according to Schimmel, Allie Webb and Atwell could get more chances in the circle as well this year.
"We feel that we have four pitchers that can be effective," explained Schimmel. "Horton and Pirolozzi have been very solid for us these last two years, and I don't think we've necessarily seen them reach their full potential yet."
Horton, who has been an all-NCAC honorable mention in each of her first two seasons, went 7-10 last year, despite only allowing more than three earned runs on two occasions. She posted a 2.59 ERA and struck out 6.25 batters per game, which was the fifth-highest total in the league.
Pirolozzi had a solid year, going 4-6 with a 3.53 ERA, and striking out 52 batters in 75.1 innings. Webb posted a 2-2 record in eight appearances (six starts), while Atwell earned some pitching nods early in the season, but later carved out a niche as the starting third baseman.
The Scots will also welcome six incoming freshman to the team this spring, several of which are expected to push for playing time right away.
"With Denison, Hiram, and now DePauw joining the NCAC, there's no doubt that this is a very talented league," said Schimmel. "But we want to get into that group…that top-four, and make the conference tournament, because at that point anything can happen."

Work Study

So today a few of the softball girls worked at the indoor track meet here on campus. Most of the team has work-study jobs on campus, mainly in the athletic department. There are so many different opportunities for work study here in Woo and jobs are pretty easy to come by as long as you are flexible. In the fall, after move-in, you simply go to the employment office and fill out an application. Then you can send it to the different departments that you are interested in. Here is a picture of Jenn and I (Jenn is on the left) working the track meet and another of the new Scots Center (a bunch of tables and things were set up for the meet)!

Danielle

2/3/12

This week has been pretty busy with the start of practice and classes. Since it has been so warm we have been outside on the turf everyday. Along with that we have been working inside. Plenty of stations in order to get our lift, hitting, and other drills in. Today we are fortunate enough to have the whole two hour practice on the turf!

Academically, today was pretty easy, but next week will be more of a challenge. I have a Spanish exam Tuesday and a bio exam on Friday. I am excited for Wednesday though since my bio lab will be taking a field trip to the Cleveland Zoo. It should be fun! And getting off of campus for a little while is never a bad thing.

This weekend will be filled with plenty of homework and studying, but I am also looking forward to having some fun with friends!

-Danielle

Outside again!

WOW! Can't help but be in a great mood today.  It's Friday, I'm done with classes, the sun is shining, and we get to practice outside today!! Life in WOO is good :)
Today's practice was bumped up to 2-4 p.m., there is nothing better than have an early practice time on a Friday so your weekend can start early! Everyone has certainly earned their rest after a very taxing but exciting first week of conditioning,work and practice.
Till next time
-Jenn