Lafayette Softball Update

An inside look of the Lady Rams softball team

Jacquelyn Boesler

Starting shortstop and Lafayette Junior Casey Cole is focused while up to bat against the Warhill Lions. As Casey Cole waits for the pitch, she gets into her ready stance.

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.

Senior, starting third baseman Brie Gillen is ready for the hit to come to her.

On April 10th, 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 11th at Jamestown. Come out and support the Lady Rams!

 

Date: Where (Home: Bold): Time:
April 17, 2018 At Grafton 4:30
April 20, 2018 At Smithfield 4:30
April 24, 2018 Vs. Warhill 4:30
April 27, 2018 At Tabb 4:00
April 30, 2018 Vs. Woodrow Wilson 4:30
May 1, 2018 At Bruton 4:30
May 4, 2018 Vs. York 4:30
May 8, 2018 At New Kent 4:30
May 11, 2018 At Jamestown 6:00
May 14, 2018 Vs. Poquoson 4:30
May 17, 2018 Vs. Grafton 4:30