Young softball team ready to turn heads

By Gianna Shikitino
February 26, 2009

Despite ending the 2008 season with an overall 12-25 finish and an 8-12 mark in the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference, the Cabrini women’s softball team has hopes to better their record this year.

For senior players, it’s astonishing to start their final season playing Cabrini softball.

“I think people are going to underestimate us, because of last year just going by our record,” Kelsie LaBauve, senior religious studies major, said. “We have a lot of new players, so a lot of people won’t expect what we’ll bring to the table.”

Last season, two teammates received PAC All-Conference recognition, Kristie Sandefur and Melissa Benedetti.

In addition to those achievements, LaBauve earned All-Sportsmanship Team honors.

Bernadette Dolan, senior marketing major, explained how the team lost a key player last season, but gained a lot this season with freshmen players.

With new players on the team, Dolan has high hopes for the upcoming season.

“I’m pretty excited this year. It’s exciting to see all of the changes and I’m hoping to leave with a CSAC Championship,” Dolan said.

Leslie Farrell, sophomore math and secondary education major, said, “Last year was the first time we made playoffs in a while.”

According to Farrell, last season the defense was good, whereas the offense needed some work.

“Hopefully we’ll be more well-rounded this season,” Farrell said.

The team has come together as a unit, but not everyone has started off playing since freshmen year.

Benedetti, senior exercise science and health promotion major, did not play softball her first two years at Cabrini.

“I’m still learning about the team and team traditions,” Benedetti said.

Benedetti earned second-team honors last season, with a .343 hitting clip, 11 runs scored and 12 runs batted in. She is one of the 39 Cabrini student athletes to receive PAC All-Academic honors following the spring 2008 semester.

“There’s a lot of new teams we’re playing this season. We still have some of our old rivals, but hopefully we’ll win a championship. It’ll be fantastic,” Benedetti said.

Lisa McGregor, head coach of the women’s softball team, has high hopes for her team this upcoming season.

“I think they play very well as a team. They come together as one unit,” McGregor said. “We’re going to shock a lot of teams in the CSAC with what we’re bringing to the table.”

The team’s first game will be over spring break in Virginia Beach, Va. against Gallaudet University on March 6.

McGregor and the team will come back to open the CSAC at Cabrini on Saturday, March 14 against Marywood University.

“I think that Cabrini softball this year is going to be a team to watch for,” McGregor said. “We have a group of girls this year that want to win and be successful, and I want to see them do that.”

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Gianna Shikitino

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Perspectives

Special Project

Title IX Redefined Website

Produced by Cabrini Communication
Class of 2024

Listen Up

Season 2, Episode 3: Celebrating Cabrini and Digging into its Past

watch

Scroll to Top
Share via
Copy link
Powered by Social Snap