Buckeyes Gain Much Through a Productive Fall Season – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/17/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Nov. 17, 2005
Although the 2006 season is still a little over two months away, the Ohio State softball team’s fall exhibition season provided a good head start for the spring season. Four weeks of practice and eight games have given the Buckeyes a chance to both get to know each other and develop a to-do list in preparation for the New Mexico State Tournament Feb. 10-12.
The Buckeyes ended the fall season with a 4-4 record and gave the coaching staff the opportunity to see which combinations could be most beneficial as well as giving the players time to adjust to one another.
“The fall exhibition games have allowed us to see players at different positions and get in good playing time especially for the new kids,” Linda Kalafatis, head coach, said. “We are still trying to find our identity and determine what we are capable of as a squad.”
Kalafatis welcomed back 11 letter winners and four freshmen to the program, which wrapped up Oct. 9 against Louisville. With four seniors, four juniors and three sophomores, the 2006 Buckeyes have maturity and experience which have proven to be major team assets. Among the returning players are Megan Schwab, who was first-team all-region as well as Ohio State’s offensive player of the year and Liz Caputo, who was second-team all-region and received rookie of the year honors.
“Our strength lies in our ability to come back when we are down,” Kalafatis said. “We have a solid line up and decent speed.”
The 2005 Buckeyes finished last season in fourth-place in the Big Ten with a record of 9-7 and had one of the most potent offensive lineups in the nation. This year’s squad has picked off where they left off. The Buckeyes opened their fall exhibition season with an average of over six runs per game in their three contests in the Kent State Tournament. “Our freshmen are adapting to the college game,” Kalafatis said. “Kim (Reeder) has thrown a lot and is learning to adjust to three feet more on the mound. (Courtney) Pruner has shown to be a clutch hitter who thrives on being up when runners are on base.”
The 2005 Buckeyes said goodbye to five talented seniors, which challenged the incoming freshmen to make immediate contributions, and they have done just that. Reeder pitched a five-inning shutout against Miami in the 2005 Ohio Collegiate Charity Classic in Columbus Oct. 1. Pruner hit a three-run home run against Toledo Oct. 2. The Buckeyes were scoreless against Ohio in the first three innings only to score three times in the fourth inning and twice on a home run by Christina Douglas in the sixth inning to win 6-1 in the finale of the 2005 OCCC.
The team has great performers across the board and all are supportive of one another. Teamwork is a dominant characteristic of the squad’s mentality.
“We have great team chemistry,” Pruner said. “We work for each other and we want to go to the NCAA tournament this year.”
The team is preparing for a winning season with a winning attitude.
“There is always room for improvement, but we come ready to play every day,” senior captain Chelsea Baker said. “Our mechanics are well developed; we just need to bring it all together.”
The squad has developed a unique spirit which can generate team-wide energy at any moment.
“Our strength is in our character, we are serious and intense in our own way,” Baker said. “We have a good time out there and like to have fun. We play better when we are enjoying ourselves.”
Although the team did not make NCAA tournament last year, they are not letting that hold them back. They have taken great strides this fall and only need a few final pieces to achieve the ultimate goal.
“The players are thinking about the Big Ten Championship and playing into the postseason,” Kalafatis said.
by Elena Pollack, OSU Athletics Communications Contributing Writer
