Looking for your next National champion, Emporia?
You might not have to wait long. Both the Emporia State softball and baseball teams are once again stacked and could be in contention in May to go to the World Series and possibly bring back another title to Emporia.
Before the spring, the baseball team looked to be the one that had the best chance at a title. The Hornets were ranked preseason No. 1, and they returned a strong nucleus from the team that made the championship game last year.
Two months in, and the ninth-ranked baseball team has had a nice start, but it’s the softball team, ranked No. 7 in the country, that is looking like the team with the makeup of a champion.
To start, the ladies have won 16 straight games. They have the most feared hitter in the MIAA, Miranda Campbell, who might as well be softball’s version of Barry Bonds. On Saturday in a doubleheader against Nebraska-Omaha, Campbell was walked five times (three intentional). In her other two at-bats, she got a hit, proving the fear to pitch to her is warranted.
Campbell is the star — she was named national player of the week on Wednesday — but she is also surrounded by capable bats up and down the lineup. The Hornets are hitting .335 as a team, and they have eight players hitting better than .300.
“I think this year’s team success has a lot to do with the team,” coach Kristi Bredbenner said. “They get along great, and they play hard for each other. This is the first year where I feel like we have good quality backups that can go in at any time and get a hit for us or play defense for us.”
Listening to Bredbenner, it’s tough not to think about the Lady Hornet basketball team. Players playing hard for each other is exactly what made the Lady Hornets a champion.
Once they figured out that the best way to win was trusting one another, they started playing championship basketball.
Players getting along with each other is also part of the makeup of a champion. Every successful team I’ve ever covered or played on has had this ingredient. First and foremost, you cannot win without talent, but you also cannot win without players who get along and want to succeed for each other.
Alli Volkens, who became a star in the basketball postseason, said she was motivated by the fact that she wanted her team’s seniors to go out winners, and she did not want the season to end because she loved playing with those seniors.
This softball team has three seniors, and they have a senior star in Campbell who, like Cassondra Boston, is one of the best in the country and deserves to end her career holding a big trophy.
All these intangibles could lead to a nice season, but they would all be obsolete in the postseason without a dominant pitcher, the key to any team’s postseason success.
Good news — the Hornets might have two.
The biggest difference during the recent 16-game winning streak has been freshman Paige Ladenburger. Ladenburger has not allowed an earned run in her last 23 innings and has a 1.25 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 84 1/3 innings.
More telling than her numbers could be the way she’s pitched under pressure. Last week, she pitched out of jams three times in the final inning to ensure ESU wins.
“She’s the most mentally tough of our four pitchers,” Bredbenner said. “She doesn’t want to make a mistake, but she also can stay composed when she does make a mistake and come back and get that next batter, and that’s something that is a very good sign for a freshman pitcher on the mound that’s getting the innings that she’s getting.”
Sophomore Jennifer Heerey has also had a great season and shown improvement from her freshman season. She has a 12-1 record and a stellar 2.55 ERA.
“The biggest improvement for Jenny this year has been her mentality and the mental side of the game,” Bredbenner said. “I think last year she had a little bit of frustration when she was making mistakes, or if she wasn’t feeling well, you could tell. I think this year she battles through that a little bit more, and she can stay composed when she gives up a big hit.”
For the complete story see the Gazette print edition or the online print edition at http://www.emporiagazette.com/pdf. To subscribe to the print edition or the online print edition go to http://www.emporiagazette.com/subscribe.
latenitereader (anonymous) says...
The Lady Hornet Softball team will be fun to watch. Coach does a great job recruiting these ladies. We should be proud of them. Unfortunately the baseball team hasn't shown the same integrity. A big pat on the back to the Lady Hornets and their coach.
April 8, 2010 at 4:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Hornets (anonymous) says...
latenite,
The baseball team has shown integrity. You shouldn't let a couple bad apples be the judgement about the whole team. Good luck to the baseball and softball team.
April 9, 2010 at 2:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )