2008 Woodie Awards
Gorloks hit sunshine state, leave in cloud
By: Rachel Lebo
Issue date: 3/22/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
There was no time for anything but softball while the Webster University women's softball team played in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III Leadoff Classic and the Rebel Springs Games in Florida during spring break.
Competing against nationally ranked and unranked Division III teams, the Gorlok's overall record went from 1-1 to 4-10.
"We put ourselves in a pressured situation where we can be successful and learn how to deal with failure," Head Coach Brett Swip said. "We took some positive things out of the week - maybe not for the win column, but definitely for the softball program. We're trying to put this program on the map and show we can compete on a national level."
The Gorlok's record was 0-6 during the March 9 through 11 NFCA Leadoff Classic in Panama City, Fla.
"The first game we played was against University of Rutgers-Camden," said junior Elizabeth Eisele. "We were scared. They are ranked No. 1 in the division. We could have played better. The games in Orlando went a lot better."
The final score for the first game was 15-2. The second game in the doubleheader against Methodist College was a 5-2 loss.
"Coach said they were going light on us at first - they weren't using their No. 1 pitcher in the beginning," Eisele said. "Later in the game, they started putting in their better players."
The March 13 doubleheader against McDaniel College in the Rebel Springs Games in Orlando went a different direction. The Gorloks swept the doubleheader by winning the first game 7-3 and the second game 9-2.
"It felt good to go from 0-6 to sweep the first doubleheader," Eisele said.
The rest of the Rebel Springs tournament resulted in two losses and one win, making the tournament record 3-9. Two games in the tournament went into 10 innings.
"It teaches you toughness and how to hang in there," Swip said. "We were on the verge of breaking out all week and we needed that experience to show us we can hang with those teams."
During the trip, the team learned a lot of valuable lessons, Eisele said.
"This week showed us that we need to put a lot of work in defense and pitching," Swip said. "It might be cliché to say but defense can win a ball game."
The next tournament will be March 24 and 25 at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
"We played 12 games in six days in Florida," Eisele said. "We practice for the week before the tournament. We'll travel to Iowa and show some teams we can win."
Competing against nationally ranked and unranked Division III teams, the Gorlok's overall record went from 1-1 to 4-10.
"We put ourselves in a pressured situation where we can be successful and learn how to deal with failure," Head Coach Brett Swip said. "We took some positive things out of the week - maybe not for the win column, but definitely for the softball program. We're trying to put this program on the map and show we can compete on a national level."
The Gorlok's record was 0-6 during the March 9 through 11 NFCA Leadoff Classic in Panama City, Fla.
"The first game we played was against University of Rutgers-Camden," said junior Elizabeth Eisele. "We were scared. They are ranked No. 1 in the division. We could have played better. The games in Orlando went a lot better."
The final score for the first game was 15-2. The second game in the doubleheader against Methodist College was a 5-2 loss.
"Coach said they were going light on us at first - they weren't using their No. 1 pitcher in the beginning," Eisele said. "Later in the game, they started putting in their better players."
The March 13 doubleheader against McDaniel College in the Rebel Springs Games in Orlando went a different direction. The Gorloks swept the doubleheader by winning the first game 7-3 and the second game 9-2.
"It felt good to go from 0-6 to sweep the first doubleheader," Eisele said.
The rest of the Rebel Springs tournament resulted in two losses and one win, making the tournament record 3-9. Two games in the tournament went into 10 innings.
"It teaches you toughness and how to hang in there," Swip said. "We were on the verge of breaking out all week and we needed that experience to show us we can hang with those teams."
During the trip, the team learned a lot of valuable lessons, Eisele said.
"This week showed us that we need to put a lot of work in defense and pitching," Swip said. "It might be cliché to say but defense can win a ball game."
The next tournament will be March 24 and 25 at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
"We played 12 games in six days in Florida," Eisele said. "We practice for the week before the tournament. We'll travel to Iowa and show some teams we can win."
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