May 2, 2008

ADRIAN, Mich. - Many times in sports, the word "rookie" tends to be associated with a lack of success combined with a tough first-year learning experience. When objectively looking at a squad that regularly had four "rookies" and three sophomores in the line up with a first-year head coach, most people would immediately think that the team in question would have more set-backs than achievements.

All predispositions about expectations can be thrown out the window when looking back on the season that the 2008 Adrian College softball team recently completed. Under the direction of first-year coach Kristina Schweikert, the Bulldogs compiled a 21-17 overall record with a 9-7 mark in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play. The softball program at the College has not won over 20 games since the mid-1990s. The tie for fourth place in the MIAA is also the best finish for the squad since the same timeframe.

Schweikert wasted little time setting a high standard for her team. In one of the first team meetings at the beginning of preseason back in January, Schweikert challenged her team with two goals. One was to work hard everyday and play with everything that they had. The second was to play in the conference tournament, which meant being one of the top four teams in the conference at the end of regular season play.

"That was one of the first times that you could tell a distinct difference between the returnees and the freshmen. Most of the kids that were returning from the previous year looked at me like I was crazy. The freshmen looked excited, ready to get started, and challenged," Schweikert recounted of the meeting.

When the season started and the Bulldogs took the field, any sort of classification of freshman or upperclassman seemed to disappear. Three months and 21 wins later, the team had surpassed almost anyone's expectations of such a young team.

The excitement and willingness of the freshmen to figuratively and literally step up to the plate played a big part in the team's eye-opening season. Looking at the statistical side of things, the Bulldogs thrived on the success of "rookies" in 2008. Holly Lowe (Dowagiac, Mich./Dowagiac H.S.) led the team in batting average (.417), slugging percentage (.658), on-base percentage (.450), doubles (16 - a new school record), and RBI (32). The freshman tied 2007 First-Team All-Region player Krissy Sheets (Temperance, Mich./Bedford H.S.) in hits (50) and triples (2). Sheets also tied a school record for most runs scored in a season with 38.

Freshman Katie Adams (Flat Rock, Mich./Flat Rock H.S.) finished third overall with a .372 batting average and led the team in MIAA batting average, going 18-for-36 for a .500 clip in the league. In the circle, freshman Kelly Tomasek (Linden, Mich./Linden H.S.) led all pitchers with 68 strikeouts on the year.

"I would personally like to thank the Administration and Athletic Department for all of its support and dedication to the program this year," commented Schweikert. "We were able to build our program to be even stronger than before. This year has been nothing short of amazing."

Despite all of the success of the 2008 campaign, Schweikert and company are already looking forward to the 2009 season.

"No record or statistic can measure the amount of success that the Adrian College softball team has achieved this year," she added. "It's still not enough to be satisfied. As a team, we have more room to grow and improve upon each and every day. I believe in the next couple of years Adrian is going to be a team to beat, instead of a team to beat on."