‘Cats are Purr-fect
For only the second time in school history, the Georgia College & State University Lady Bobcats softball team is ranked in the USA Today/NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) Division II Top 25 Poll.
The Lady Bobcats are off to their best start ever at 18-0. They come into the week ranked fifth in the USA Today/NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll released on March 10. The No. 5 ranking is the highest in school history.
The Lady Bobcats are one of five Peach Belt Conference schools ranked in the national poll. North Florida University is ranked No. 7, while Kennesaw State University is No. 13. Armstrong Atlantic State University is No. 18, and Columbus State University is listed at No. 22.
Head softball coach Windy Thees believes that the team chemistry is responsible for the early success.
“The numbers that we have put up we have put up because we performed so well as a team,” said Thees. “No matter what the competition is like, as long as we play our game, then we’ll continue our success.”
The returning players from last year have found themselves in a leadership position during the first half of the season.
“Our seniors have really done a great job of showing leadership out there and getting the job done,” said Thees. “Our freshmen have never played like freshmen. They’ve played like upperclassmen since the day they got here.”
Seniors Cathy Chandler and Rebecca Heinicka have tried to lead the team on and off the field.
“They [freshmen] definitely look up to you, because they want to be successful and they see the success that you’ve had,” said Chandler.
“It helps to lead by example,” said Heinicka. “They look up to us because we’ve been here four years playing college softball.”
Thees likes the mesh of the new and old players on the team.
“You look at all the returning and new players, and you see all the
opportunities and potential you have,” said Thees. “But it’s a matter of actually putting it together and doing it on the field. So far we’ve been focused, and I hope we continue to get the job done.”
Chandler is 5-0 in six starts with a 1.30 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 37.2 innings pitched. Heinicka is batting .294 with one homerun and 11 RBIs.
Junior and starting center fielder Joni Frei also finds herself in a leadership role on the field.
“I’ve tried my best to be a general in the outfield,” said Frei. “Teach the newcomers some of the fundamentals. I think being a mentor to some of the younger players is a way that I can contribute.”
Frei leads the team in homeruns with six. She is also batting .358 and has 17 RBIs.
Thees and some players are relying on the unity and competitive spirit of the team to help continue the success into the remaining conference schedule. The Lady Bobcats are taking every team seriously.
“In the past couple of years we’ve had so much trouble with taking some weak teams lightly,” said Thees. “This year, every game has been so important. I don’t see this team getting a big head. We still have something to prove. We have one goal in mind, and that’s getting to the world series.”
“We know our toughest competition is coming up so that’s what we’ve got to focus on now,” said Chandler.
“We have the toughest conference in the nation,” said Heinicka. “To get a big head would be stupid. We have to be level headed about it. We know that 18-0 is a really good record, but in two weeks it could be 18-10.”
The season is far from over, but with a great start the expectations for the team are very high.
“As long as we stay focused and play our game, I don’t think that there’s going to be a team that can beat us,” said Frei. “We’re only one game away from a loss.”
GC&SU travels to the University of South Carolina in Aiken on Thursday, March 20 for a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader against the Lady Pacers.
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Mar 21 2003. Filed under Sports.
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