Aside from last season’s winning record in conference play, the Lakers have not had a winning season since 1998. This season, the Lakers are looking to change that. Led primarily by sophomores and juniors, Oswego State has a solid core of players that are committed to getting over that .500 plateau.
The Lakers got off to a decent start, going 5-3 in their annual spring break trip to Clermont, Florida. In each of their wins, Oswego State scored at least one run in the first inning, and by the end of the second, they had the lead for the long haul.
“It is important to score first so you have that lead,” said Jessica Roe, sophomore pitcher and outfielder. “You have to start strong.”
Although the Lakers have tried to play with consistency, they have not been able to find it. Oswego State has not been able to carry over momentum from one game to another, as its largest winning streak is just three games.
In softball, one thing that separates good teams from great teams is being able to go on a large winning streak. However, there is nearly two-thirds of the season remaining, leaving the Lakers plenty of time to correct their issue and start that long streak.
Inning to inning, the Lakers have had some problems stifling opposing rallies. In their losses, Oswego State has had several innings in which they gave up as many as five runs. But typically, it is three or four.
“Sometimes we try to do too much,” said Rebecca Vilchez, sophomore pitcher and outfielder. “We like to call a timeout to take a breath, [and] remember to trust ourselves. Taking a couple seconds [is really helpful.]”
This may not be a long-standing problem for the Lakers, but it is something that needs to disappear. These rallies can deflate teams and also give the opposition a big boost in energy that they can use for the rest of the game. It may even affect the opposing defense because of the spark it provides and it makes it easier to face such a strong lineup.
“It is important to get on top,” Vilchez said. “I can go right after batters, almost wanting them to hit the ball because I trust my defense so much.”
Vilchez’s sentiments are felt by every pitcher, so the Lakers need to avoid giving up these huge innings to make it tougher on the opposing pitcher.
Although the Lakers have some trouble with these rallies, they have the bats to bring them right back in the game. The Lakers average nearly 5.6 runs per game and even though they are seventh in the SUNYAC in runs with 78, they have played the second fewest games at 14. Their electric offense is led by Roe, Vilchez and Angela Frampton. Roe has the best batting average on the team with .447. As a pitcher, she finds her ability to drive in runs really helpful when it comes to the defensive side of the game.
“If there is anyone on base, I can drive them in,” Roe said. “I know I can help myself and the team out.”
When it comes to their lineup, the Lakers do a great job protecting their elite hitters and forcing the opposition to pitch them in ways they normally would not. They stack Frampton, Roe and Vilchez third through fifth in the batting order. As a result, the opposing pitcher cannot just walk Frampton because she has to face Roe. This has yielded many runs for the Lakers, as those three have drove in 34 runs, over 40 percent of the total runs scored on the season. Despite this, the team is very efficient when they get runners on base. The Lakers have the eighth-most total bases in the SUNYAC even though they have a winning record. This means that they are able to bring most of the runners around to score. In fact, nearly half of their 158 runners on base have scored.
Although the Lakers have not had a winning record in quite some time, they have the pieces to do so. They are young, confident and most importantly, determined.
“Compared to my past team, they are a lot more confident going on to the field,” said Frampton, who is in her first season with the Lakers. “They are more knowledgeable about the game, and that makes me confident [as a pitcher.]”
Photo Provided by Dave Schofield
