Softball keeps streak alive

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photo courtesy of Lakeland College

The softball team has won 12 consecutive games.

Leah Ulatowski, Editor-in-Chief

The Lakeland College women’s softball team has a winning streak of 12 games that is still going strong.

According to lakelandmuskies.com, this is the longest streak since the team won a school-record 23 straight games in the 2009 season.

Hailey Dreyer, head softball coach, said the success comes after a rough patch in the early part of the conference season that the team worked to overcome.

“I think we were looking at the bigger picture and long term versus focusing on the ‘now’ and working pitch by pitch,” Dreyer said.  “We had a team meeting 12 games ago during a practice to talk about the importance of team(work), buying into the process and doing the little things, such as executing bunts, having a plan at the plate and capitalizing defensively.”

Sami Jo Williams, sophomore exercise science and sport studies major and outfielder on the softball team, agrees that the team’s achievements were a process.

“Our success has come from our ability to make adjustments quickly and come together as a unit,” Williams said. “We are a hard working and passionate team that never gives up.”

Dreyer believes the winning streak is a great testament to the team’s improvement, but the women have even greater aspirations in mind.

“Our big winning streak is fantastic and it really shows a lot about the resiliency and heart of this program, but in hindsight, our work isn’t done.  Our ultimate team goal is getting into the tournament and then winning the tournament,” Dreyer said.

The team currently stands .500 in conference after a doubleheader sweep against Milwaukee School of Engineering on April 19.

Their next game will be at home against Edgewood College on April 24.

“It all comes down to playing pitch by pitch and focusing on us rather than what our opponents are doing,” Dreyer said. “I’m excited about this team and what we are capable of doing; ‘one team, one dream.’”