Story by Kurt Miller, Assistant Sports Information Director
The Kalamazoo College softball program has trended in the right direction the past three seasons, and with her first full offseason behind her, second-year head coach Melanie Rushing believes the program will continue to climb the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association rankings.
"The biggest obstacle our team faced the past couple years was truly believing that we were capable of competing with good teams," Rushing said. "They've now seen themselves perform well against great teams and they know we're getting better, so that's the biggest jump."
The team's confidence showed in 2015 as its MIAA win total equaled the combined number of MIAA wins from the previous two seasons. With multiple key players returning from last year's team and a few standout freshmen added to the mix, the prospects of an even more successful 2016 are bright.
Highlighting the returners from last year's team is junior Erin DuRoss. The Onsted, Mich. native led the team in innings pitched (100.1) in 2015 while also leading the team in runs batted in (17).
Isabella Kirck locked down the shortstop position last year as a freshman and will look to do the same this season. Kirck stole 16 bases, recorded six extra base hits and drove in 13 runs while striking out just 10 times in 101 at bats in 2015.
In the outfield, Paige Maguire returns for her senior season. Her .375 batting average last season is the highest among all returners. She also drove in 14 runs and belted two home runs.
Rushing is confident her returners will continue to build on last season, but also noted multiple newcomers bring an added level of excitement.
"We've got a few newcomers who are looking really good," she said. "All six of them have displayed multiple tools throughout fall ball and intrasquad scrimmages and I know they'll be exciting players to watch."
With the ultimate goal for the 2016 season being an MIAA championship, the team created a phrase to live by to keep it focused day-in and day-out and give itself a chance to make the MIAA tournament.
That phrase? Raise the bar.
"Coming into every game we're looking for more solid contact in every at bat, moving runners when we can and taking extra bases whenever we can," Rushing said. "Defensively, we want to limit errors and have clean play. We really try to break it down to what every player can control individually."
The Hornets will put that mindset to the test against a team other than itself when Kalamazoo travels to Franklin on March 6 for the season opener. After a spring training trip down to Florida spanning from March 17 to March 22, the Hornets will host their first home game on March 26 against North Park.
MIAA play begins April 2 at Albion.