As mid-season approaches for the Lafayette Rams Softball team, competition continues to get progressively harder. Although the Lady Rams have not started the season off exactly as they anticipated, with a 1-5 record, there is a lot of potential for the second half of the season. With six returning starters, including Virginia State recruit Julia Jones, the Rams have a strong lineup. Coach Tim Jones believes that if the girls continue to put in work off the field and play at 110%, the games will start going in Lafayette’s favor.

The starters from last year include Seniors Julia Jones, Paola Territo, and Brie Gillen, and Juniors Casey Cole, Sarah Bryant, and Talissa Fenske. These six players have been the core of the team this year. Starting center fielder Sarah Bryant says, “I expect our team to develop more and work together as a single unit as we continue on with the season.”

The biggest thing the team has been struggling with is batting. As a team, the Lady Rams are only batting .174. That means that only about one out of five at bats, the Rams get a hit. This is vital for teams to win games. Without hits, you cannot score, and you have to score to win a game. Another stat that needs improving is errors. An error is when a fielder does not field the ball cleanly and causes the other team to advance. Usually, the team who has fewer errors wins. Already within seven games, the Rams have 33 errors.

Although the Lady Rams have not won many games this year, there are some positives. Junior Sarah Bryant leads the team with a .368 batting average and 1.000 fielding percentage. Some other outstanding players include senior Julia Jones with two home runs, and junior Casey Cole with four hits.

On April 10^th, the Lady Rams played  cross town rival Jamestown Eagles. Lafayette fell just short, with a final score of 4-1. Outstanding players during this game included pitcher Julia Jones with 10 strikeouts, Sarah Bryant with the only hit to the outfield, and Paola Territo and Avery Hicks with no errors. Jamestown standout Tara Rowden led Jamestown just past Lafayette by scoring two runs for the Eagles. The Lady Rams will meet the Eagles again on May 11^th at Jamestown. Come out and support the Lady Rams!