JORDI BRADSHAW | guest writer

With a new coach and a new motto, the women’s softball team returns to the field refreshed and excited for what the new season holds.

“I’m so excited,” head coach Carrie Webber said. “I don’t think I’ve ever been this excited for a softball season.”

Webber, who spent the last five years coaching softball at Santa Rosa Junior College, has a vision for how the season will go.

“I’m looking forward to bringing the program back to winning status,” she said. “If you don’t strive to win then there’s no point in playing sports.”

To prepare for victory in the GSAC, which Webber claims holds the toughest competition of any conference, the team will focus on building a solid offense.

“Because our conference is so hard, we are naturally going to give up runs, so we’re really making a concerted effort to improve our hitting,” she said. “I want consistent and powerful hitters stepping up to the plate.”

The new season comes with seven faithful returners as well as several promising rookies. Coach Webber has especially high hopes for freshman pitcher and third baseman Jeanette Murad.

“We’re looking forward to Jeanette having an immediate impact on the team,” Webber said.

In addition, freshman Cassie Treischel is a dynamic defender who Webber says is, “also a great hitter who has consistency and power.”

Junior transfer student Jen Whitten is also new to the team. She was coached last year by Webber at Santa Rosa Junior College.

“She’s really motivating,” Witten said. “She’s not just interested in our lives on the field. She also cares about our academics and how were doing in life in general. She’s by far my favorite coach ever.”

Webber promises that Whitten will bring “experience, speed, and overall dynamic play to our outfield.”

The coach knows that a winning team brings much more than athletic ability to the field. With the motto “Edify,” she hopes to teach the girls to build relationships with one another.

“We try to tie everything we do into edifying our teammates and whoever is around us,” Webber said.

The team started the bonding process last weekend with a retreat in Thousand Palms where they played games and got to know each other. The experience inspired several players to focus on building deeper relationships with their fellow team members.

“I’m going to focus on seeing my teammates as a family instead of just people I get together with every day,” junior catcher and third baseman Natalie Mickelson said. “This year we’re going to be more of a team instead of individuals playing for ourselves.”

Junior center fielder Whitten puts great importance on being optimistic no matter what happens on the field.

“We’ve got to make sure that if things don’t go right we don’t get down on ourselves or each other. We’ve got to stay up and stay positive,” Whitten said.

Webber’s ultimate goal goes beyond softball and building a solid team and into her players’ personal and spiritual welfare.

“I want to show the girls what it means to play softball for Christ—what it looks like and how it plays out.”

Webber and the Cougars are ready to tackle the GSAC and surprise the other teams with their new and improved skills and attitude.

“This is a really good group of girls who are ready to accept the challenge to be better and to work together to achieve the goals we’ve set out for this year,” Webber said. “I’m really excited and I know the girls are ready.”