So far, this early season has been an up and down battle for the Waynesburg University softball team.
After coming back from the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic in Florida with a 5-3 record, the Yellow Jackets had their home opener postponed due to weather and then went to Carlow Monday, March 19 and lost a double header. For head coach Richelle Hall, she said she is staying optimistic.
“It’s a been a very good season so far,” said Hall. “We came back from Florida with a 5-3 record and could of came back 7-1. The team is playing very well and gelling together as a team should.”
The Yellow Jacket softball team is now even in overall record at .500 (5-5) and have a double header coming up Saturday, March 24, at Pitt-Greensburg.
“Our pitching staff is a big positive so far this season,” said Hall. “The staffs ERA is very low we just need to get some runs on the board to help them. Our freshman pitchers [Emma Kubalak] and [Miranda Bowers] and sophomore Courtney Syfert have been doing a very good job so far, this season. Also, our defense has not had many errors so far and I hope that continues into the season.”
Since 2002, the Yellow Jackets are 10-4 against Pitt-Greensburg, last year the two teams split the double header. In game one, Pitt-Greensburg won 11-0 in five innings and in the second game Waynesburg won 11-1 in five innings.
“This season our team’s batting average is around .300 and we are only 10 games into the season,” said Hall. “There haven’t been many negatives at all this season except for maybe getting runs in when they are in scoring position so that we can put ourselves in a better position to win games.”
This year, Pitt-Greensburg is 3-7 and two of the three wins have been blowouts, the other won was game decided by a single run. This will also be Pitt-Greensburg home opener due to postponed games earlier in the season.
“To win the games on Saturday against Pitt-Greensburg, we need to get key hits when we need them most,” said Hall. “I told our girls at the Carlow double header that our practice swings need to be like our game swings.”
Earlier this season, the Presidents’ Athletic Conference came out with its annual poll on where the coaches believe that teams will be in the standings at the end of the season. The Yellow Jackets were picked to finish in seventh place out of the 10 teams in the PAC.
“I think that our girls are excited for this season and excited on how we started,” said Hall. “It’s going to be a great season. We are growing as a team and will continue to grow over the season.”
After the double header Saturday, March 24, at Pitt Greensburg the Waynesburg Yellow Jacket softball team will have a double header on Wednesday, March 28, at Point Park before opening up PAC play at Westminster the very next day for a double header. After that the team will have six days of rest before going to Grove City for a double header April 4.