By Michael Del Genio
Dominican Softball has been a powerhouse program in the Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference (NACC) in recent years. The program has sat atop the NACC in back to back years and now seeks out a third straight and a bid into the NCAA tournament.
The team is set to be projected ahead the conference once again with higher expectations and goals.
Junior captain and catcher Kailee Randall who bats a career .330 with an .855 OPS says, “We have a target on our backs. I think it’s a good thing, because games are more competitive.”
Sophomore pitcher Rhiannon Rubio adds to the comment, “I take it as added expectation. Everyone wants to win at the end of the day. It’s just something we’re working towards. We’ve done it before so now the pressure is off of us, we know we can do it. It’s an expectation now and not a pressure. We’re at the level we need to be, specifically right now we’re fine tuning it.”
Dominican softball lost key seniors in pitcher Emma Woodhouse and shortstop Liliana Santoyo who both were among the best in the conference in numerous statistical categories as well as winning All-Conference first team honors. Woodhouse also won Pitcher of the Year for her stellar season.
Rubio who primarily pitched in the second games now looks to see an increased role on the mound, “I would say this season is going to be completely different. We’re working more in a system than this person starting this one and this one starting this one. I’m going to do my part for my team and cheer my team when they go in and do their part.”
The Stars have dominated the last few years with 30 plus wins in the last three seasons and consistently being in the mix for a NACC tournament championship win.
Their success stems from Coach Lukas, who has transformed the program ever since her arrival in 2007 and has made the program a NACC tournament staple, rarely missing a run; shattering Dominican softball records along the way.
Randall praises the coaching staff, “They’re very live, breathe, softball. They watch film, and they’re very dedicated to us and what we want and our goals to. They like being part of that goal and helping us get through that goal.”
The potential of a regular season champion three peat excites the team and motivates them. The expectation is only to win and nothing less
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