Regals softball is back in action and is heading into this season with a reinvigorated attitude and swagger to their game.
The team is coming off a .500 season last year with an overall record of 19-19, while finishing the season 13-15 in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play. With a young squad eager to perform, the team has set a high standard for their performance this season.
“We want to make the playoffs, which is top four in conference, and we want to keep losses to single digits,” said head coach Debby Day, who is entering her 13th year of coaching at California Lutheran University.
In order to accomplish these goals, Day noted how the team needs to be sharp in all aspects of their game.
“We need timely hitting. We have great pitching and we have great defense. We’re just going to have to be able to get the big base hits when we need them,” Day said. “In softball if you can’t score runs, you just don’t win.”
Day pointed out how determined the team seems coming into the season.
“I think this year’s team came into January in a lot better shape than we have in the past,” Day said. “Our pitchers look great. You can tell that they came in fired up and ready to go.”
Giving run support to the solid pitching game will be a key aspect to the Regals success this season and the team is determined to showcase the hard work they’ve been putting in on the field this offseason.
“Hitting is an element of my game that I’ve been working towards stepping up this year,” said senior infielder Ryanna Morua. “We’ve got to hit the ball, hit it hard and hit it far.”
Junior infielder Blake Lewis, who garnered Second Team All-SCIAC honors last season after leading the team offensively, is looking to build on last year’s success.
“During the offseason I conditioned and lifted, took extra swings and played a lot over summer just to get ready for this season,” Lewis said.
This year’s team enters the season with half of their roster consisting of new faces. Of the nine new players, eight are freshmen with one being a transfer. However the Regals squad boasts five returning seniors bringing strong leadership and experience to the plate this season.
Day noted how the young additions to the team have given a breath of fresh life to the team as well.
“We have a ton of freshmen which is really fun because they’re so enthusiastic and eager to learn,” Day said. “I think that has rubbed off on our older players.”
With a strong mix of new faces and experienced returners the chemistry amongst the team looks to be very strong heading into the season.
“Our team chemistry is coming along really well,” said Lewis. “We have eight new freshmen, so a lot of new faces and a lot of new personalities but I think we’re getting along really well and meshing together really well.”
Morua echoed Lewis’ comments about team chemistry.
“This year the team fell into place really nicely. When we got here it was one of those things that just fit together,” Morua said. “It’s definitely something I haven’t felt in the years prior…so I think it’s going to be a great year.”
The Regals will play doubleheaders against both San Diego Christian and Whitworth before starting league competition.
“The games Saturday and Monday are huge for us because it’s our only preseason,” Day said. “Plus we want to have a little fun and get out there.”
The team will then open up SCIAC play the first weekend of February with a double header against Chapman at home.
Joe Dalecio
Staff Writer
Published February 4th, 2015
