Following a season with a 30-10 record, a 23 game winning streak, and eleven single season individual records might intimidate some athletes, but not seniors Sara Roberts and Cassie Felton, the number one and two pitchers on Lakeland’s softball team, respectively.
Roberts, a First-Team All-NAC (Northern Athletics Conference) performer a season ago and the holder of nearly every significant Lakeland pitching record, including her latest, a program best 313 career strikeouts, believes this year’s team will do what the 2009 squad could not—win an NAC Championship.
“Winning a 2010 NAC Championship will be our greatest accomplishment,” Roberts said without hesitation. “I think we can have a winning streak like last year, a very productive hitting and defensive season, and be the NAC champs.”
Not as forthright as Roberts was her reliever, Felton, who finished 7-2 in 2009 with a solid 3.74 ERA. Felton thinks the team is in a good position to build on last year’s success.
“I hope we improve our chemistry and unity this season,” Felton said. “We have major potential in not losing anyone [since] last year and I think we can pull through it if the newcomers think of this as their senior year rather than their freshman year.”
Lakeland softball coach Chad Buchmann and assistant softball coach Jody Monson talked about the abilities of the senior duo, one they have confidence in to lead the team.
“Sara is very focused on getting better in practice,” Monson said. “In her freshman year, I think she would throw it as hard as she could to get it past batters. Now she sets batters up a lot better.”
“Cassie and Sara have been the only four-year pitchers that our program has seen in the last ten years, which says a lot about them,” Buchmann said. “Cassie’s the ultimate team player. She works hard to become a better pitcher and it’s reassuring for me as a coach to have two great pitchers in the position.”
A pitching position is one of the few things Roberts and Felton share, as their capabilities as players differ drastically. When not at the mound, Roberts plays first base. Felton often sees action at first and second base, along with the outfield. Roberts posted 12 RBIs and two home runs at this season’s Tucson Invitational Games, both team highs, while Felton is a self-proclaimed bunting master. Despite their differences, the senior pitchers admire each others’ talents.
“Sara has always been there to inspire me. Her demeanor on the mound is awesome, and she has taken the team to another level with her intensity, and I believe it has improved everyone’s outlook,” Felton said.
“She has put a lot of hard work and effort into the team,” Roberts said. “She’s a great player and a good leader. She has done a good job at helping the freshmen become comfortable at the college level.”
Roberts’ experiences playing softball at Lakeland led her to express nostalgic sentiments concerning Felton, as well as fellow seniors KC Blahnik, Chelsea Coenen, and Corine Demske.
“We started with a large class and I feel like it’s going to be awkward not seeing the four seniors that are left with me every day after we graduate,” Roberts said. “It’s going to be tough not having school or softball with them.”