Liz GrahamNormally, Cabrini’s Division III softball would have approximately 12-15 players on the team. This however, is not true for this year’s roster. Although they would like to have a surplus of players, there are only 11 girls playing this year, but it isn’t something that’s holding them back.
There are many things that have contributed to the lack of players this year. Despite what some may think, head coach Karen Pelkey said that is it not necessarily due to a lack of interest. “These athletes are not being paid to play so there is nothing more than the love of the game holding them here,” Pelkey said.
Almost all of the players were recruited and the team will continue to run the program that way. This past fall was the first time open try-outs were held and some players did attend. “Many people do not realize the commitment that it takes to be part of a top program,” Pelkey said.
On this team of 11, eight of last years players have returned and three new players joined this year. This season, there are two seniors playing, Brooke Peterdozzi and Shannon Murphy. Second baseman Peterdozzi said, “Having only 11 players isn’t a disability. It’s a drive to work better as a team. We have to look out for each other and for ourselves.”
The team started training in the off season to be strong enough to make it through this season. “We had weight training at 6 a.m. during the week, and pitchers practiced an additional hour each week,” pitcher Ange Templin, junior psychology major, said.
Pelkey says the plans for this season are no different than any other year. “We go out to play hard and compete to the best of our ability,” she said. In seasons past there have been less than 11 players, and the team managed to remain strong and be very successful.
This softball team is one that doesn’t plan their season on “what if’s,” according to Pelkey, and isn’t at a disadvantage because of the lower number of 11. “It is hard with the back-to-back games, but we do have two on the bench… we just have to stay healthy,” Templin said.
Pelkey said she feels “that we have quality players who work their tails off.” The players plan on doing just that. Peterdozzi said they are hoping to win a few regional games and to go onto PACs- “to just give it what we got.”
Posted to the Web by: Scott Fobes
