Coming off a loss to Alvernia University in the 2012 Commonwealth Championships, the Elizabethtown College baseball team is ready for this year’s campaign. The team kicks off this Saturday against Misericordia University in Flemington, NJ. Although the team lost quite a few seniors from last season, the team brings back a strong nucleus of players that are ready to lead the team this season.
Senior Dillon Tagle, who is coming off his third consecutive all-conference selection, looks to make his final season memorable. The team goals are pretty straight forward for a team with the core that the Blue Jays have. “Our main goal as a team every year is to make the playoffs,” he said. “We always say, if you make the playoffs, anything can happen. Also, the baseball season is long, and all teams go through rough patches. We need to find ways to stick together as a team to work through the tough games.”
Kyle Gable, the team’s senior shortstop, is also looking to improve after a rough ending in the postseason last year. Gable says the team’s new players are blending well with the older players. Their transition from high school baseball to the collegiate level has been smooth because the first-years have the mindset that the team comes before individuals. “The new players are transitioning quite well. I think they realize that even though baseball may seem like an individual sport at times, everything you do as an individual greatly impacts the performance of the team. I think everyone is on the same page in regards to sacrificing other things and committing themselves to what is best for the team,” Gable said.
Tagle believes that some of the first-year players will be able to make significant contributions this season. “I can say that there are a lot of positions that will be filled with young talent this year, such as third base and multiple outfield positions. Several first-year pitchers have the ability to contribute conference innings for us this year, and there are also multiple freshman who have a chance at being an important part in the lineup,” Tagle said.
With last year’s loss to Alvernia in the Commonwealth Championships, the softball team is working hard to prepare for the 2013 season, which starts off with a double-header on March 1. The Blue Jays will take on new conference member Hood College.
After their best season since 2002, in which they tallied 24 wins, the softball team has many seniors making key contributions for the team last year will help as the team goes through the rigorous schedule of conference play.
Senior Elly McCarthy, who was Co-player of the Year, First Team All-Region and Third Team All-American last season, is one of those key pieces for the Blue Jays if they want to make a strong run for the conference title this season. “The end goal is always playoffs, and it has been a long time since Etown has been MAC champs,” McCarthy said. With the majority of veterans coming back, the nucleus is strong as they enjoy competing day in and day out. “We are bringing back eight of our nine starters and all four of the new players are ready to hop into that ninth spot,” McCarthy said.
Senior captain Courtney Comstock, who was also First Team All-Conference and Third Team All-Region as the team’s catcher will also be a vital piece to the team this season. “With a lot of experience on our roster along with working hard in the off-season, our goals are to win the conference and advance to NCAA regionals,” Comstock said.
Senior captain shortstop Lindsey Cooper also wants to excel in her last season for the Blue Jays. “The goal is always to win the conference and as a senior, winning the conference and getting into the NCAA regional would be exactly what the senior class has working for these past four years,” Cooper said.