Devon Burningham
Sports Writer
As students are settling back in for the spring semester, the Idaho State University women’s softball team has begun practicing in preparation for the impending season.
After a disappointing end to the 2018-2019 season, the team is looking to redeem itself by going far in this year’s Big Sky Conference tournament.
“We came back with a very high, positive energy, and I think everyone was really excited to be back and start season,” said senior pitcher Kelsea Sweeney. “It was really clear that a lot of people had been working over break, so the last few practices have been really good.”
Last season, Sweeney earned 57 strikeouts. She also achieved a career-high, striking out six batters in two seperate games. This will be her final season with ISU.
“It’s a super important season for me, and I really want to work all of my team, have a great season, get a lot of wins and prove to people in our conference that we are here to kick butt,” Sweeney said. “So it’s probably the most important season that I’ll be playing.”
The team finished last season with an overall record of 20-27 and 10-7 in conference play.
“We are getting back into the literal swing of things and being in an area where the climate doesn’t allow us to be out on the field,” said head coach Cristal Brown. “We are used to being creative with how to make sure we are getting our minds in game mode.”
Brown was named as the new head coach in July 2019. Before this, she was the head coach of the softball team at Whitworth University, winning regular season titles in the
Northwest Conference. She was also named as that conference’s coach of the year in 2016 and 2017.
“We’re big on culture, we’re big on getting quality people who care about achieving excellence in all areas in their life,” Brown said. “A huge part of it for us is instilling that philosophy in the girls that we have, even though we didn’t recruit them, and recruiting players that align with that.”
The Bengals are set to begin play against UC Santa Barbara Feb. 2 in the UC Davis/Sac State Tournament. They will begin Big Sky play March 22 at Portland State University.
