Oswego State softball began its season on Monday splitting the doubleheader with the Rochester Institute of Technology losing 8-5 in game one and winning 4-3 in game two.
Head coach Gabrielle Rivers played against the Tigers when she was on the softball team at Brockport State and from experience, she knows that RIT’s team is relentless.
“They are always a really scrappy team from what I remember,” Rivers said. “I said that to my players too. They can come from behind and no lead is really a lead with them.”
Rivers remembered correctly. Oswego State surrendered a three-run lead in the bottom of the seventh inning of game one, proving that no lead is safe when playing the Tigers. Though, the Lakers bounced back and secured the win in game two.
Senior infielder Taylor DuBois’ desire to win is extremely high. DuBois knows that the team needs to make a statement right from the beginning to show that they can compete with any team and can be an actual contender when it comes time to crown a SUNYAC champion.
“We really need to come right out of the gate and win a couple of games,” DuBois said. “Especially after we saw the preseason rankings, we were ranked towards the bottom and with a new coach, nobody knows what we have. Her coaching style, her tactics, nothing. Having a new coach and not having a spring season since she has been here really shows that we are coming for everybody. We are ready.”
DuBois is one of the leaders on this team and her dedication and constant positive energy have been a driving factor for the team during the offseason.
Another leader on this team is senior outfielder Leah Czerwinski, who is gearing up to play in her second season with the team. Czerwinski is very grateful for the opportunity to lace up again and is “pumped” to get back out on the diamond.
“I did not think we were having a season,” Czerwinski said. “When we found out, it was almost like, ‘woah.’ It was almost like before we could even get excited it was like, ‘Oh wow. I need to get my things in order.’ I can speak for everyone when I say we are just pumped. I personally am not even nervous. I am just more excited that we are able to play. It stinks that we don’t get to Florida and have a true season but we are just grateful for what we got.”
With the COVID-19 pandemic still prevalent in day-to-day life, the team understands that it is going to be a tough season. Granted, Rivers has confidence in her seniors to lead the charge and set the example for the team on and off the field.
“Taylor is a captain as well, so she has that sense of leadership already,” Rivers said. “Once they all step on the field they just need to maintain that leadership. Taylor is an infielder and Leah is an outfielder so they both have that leadership role on the field.”
Czerwinski is mindful of the COVID-19 protocols and knows that this year will be different, but that is not going to change her mindset when it comes to preparation before games. Every individual on the team is experiencing something new this year and Czerwinski mentioned it is not going to be easy to adjust to a new routine.
“It is definitely going to be different this year because of COVID-19,” Czerwinski said. “Everyone has to be on the bus at a certain time and everyone usually has a certain piece of equipment they need to bring. Usually, we will get there, and there is this special routine that we do. Infield, outfield and then we do a cheer. But this year, it has changed … Just like the freshman, us seniors included, we do not know what we are getting ourselves into. We are all in this together so I am just excited. We are definitely going to create new traditions this year.”
DuBois said she knows that her season could be halted at any moment in time, but that will not stop her from making sure the team is being cautious in order to continue playing this season.
The Oswego State softball team plays their next doubleheader on Sunday, March 28, on the road at St. John Fisher College. The first game is set to begin at 1 pm as the Lakers look to build on a strong start to their 2021 campaign.
“Everyone just needs to make sure they are wearing a mask, social distancing and not doing things we know we should not be doing,” DuBois said. “We have to go inning by inning, out by out, pitch by pitch because we do not know [what will happen]. We have to make sure we are laying it all out there each and every game because you never know what is going to happen the next day.”
The Oswegonian file photo from 2019
