NIC Softball off to a hot start in 2015

The Cardinals begin their season with hot bats, solid pitching, and a 12-1 start.

The 2015 campaign opened with a clean sweep in Walla Walla winning all four of their contests in the NWAC preseason tournament.

Cardinal softball continued their strong start in another preseason tournament in Clermont, Florida. The Cards went 6-1 there and made it look easy.

This past weekend, The Cards beat Walla Walla CC in both games of their double header 10-5 and 7-6. In the second game the Cards swung the bats really well. Hayley Fields hit a three-run homer in the second game and four hits in the first game. Chloe McIntosh went 4-4 with a double and three singles in the second game.

The players seem to have high expectations going into the season after very strong performances in back-to-back-to-back weekends.

“Our team is a collective group of really strong athletes,” Hayden Fields said. “We want to maintain our level of play throughout the whole season.” Hayden Fields is a sophomore infielder and outfielder for the Cards this season.

The Cards were able dominate on the mound as well as in the field in Walla Walla where they were able to outscore their opponents 44-8. They were able to get wins against Edmonds CC, Pierce CC, Clackamas CC, and defending Northwestern Athletic Conference (NWAC) champions Mt. Hood CC. The Cardinals finished off the weekend with an average 11 runs a game against an average of allowing only two.

They continued their good team play in Florida where they outscored their opponents 61-41 and were able to take 6 of 7. Their weekend trip included an impressive sweep of a triple-header on Saturday March 7th against John A. Logan College, Mesabi Range College and Kalamazoo Valley CC.

Coach Don Don Williams has been able to keep her team very focused to start the 2015 season.

“The message we have been giving them (the players) is one game at a time,” Williams said. “We’re really focusing on the process not the outcome.”

It seems that this team is doing just that, as they have only been held to under ten runs three times this season. They have really been swinging the bat well and taking advantage of every opportunity they get.

Unfortunately, the Cardinals will not be eligible for postseason play because they will be transitioning into the NWAC. These sophomore players have other things to play for this season besides championships.

With the team not eligible for postseason play, they will be looking to build the strength of their underclassmen who will be back next year competing for championships once again.

They will play next on March 27th in a double-header at home versus Columbia Basin CC followed by a double header versus Walla Walla the following day.

Sophomore pitcher and infielder Miranda Powless sums up the mindset of this team in just a few words.

“Every trip is a business trip,” Powless said.