Friday, April 18, 2014

Randolph Wildcat's Softball Team on a Winning Streak

Written By: Michael Ehilegbu ‘14

Published April 2014

Randolph College Softball Team
Photo Courtesy of RC Athletic Department


This spring, head coach Caroline Cubbage led the Randolph College softball team to one of its best starts in program history. Cubbage is currently in her fourth season as head coach of the Wildcats; posting a 66-55 overall record. In her first year at the helm, She lea the Wildcats to a program record 22 wins and the program’s first ODAC title game. In the 2013 campaign Cubbage and the Wildcats shattered their record earning 26 wins last season.

This season the resilient Wildcats have been tough to beat; currently owning an 18-9 record. Randolph began the season slow, dropping their first four games. However, the Wildcats quickly returned to form, winning 17 of their next 19 games. They recorded two separate win streaks of six consecutive games each.

So far this season, the Wildcats have registered six sweeps in double header match ups, defeating Shenandoah University, York College, Castleton State College, Bridgewater College, and Salem College. They’ve boasted a team batting avg. of .308, while scoring 154 runs, and knocking three home runs.

This year’s team has been piloted by Hunter Glaves ’17. Glaves, a first-year, has quickly adapted to the college game; she leads team in batting average (.453), home runs (three), RBI (25), stolen bases (five), on base percentage (.529), and plate appearances (86).

Glaves is joined by other first years Ashley Dudding ’17, whose average is .345, and who has nine RBI, and Jackie Lamberty ’17, whose average is.182, and has six RBI. Both are having strong seasons. Dudding ’17 states, ”My transition into my first year was pretty smooth thanks to the help of my teammates. They helped me adjust to the culture of college sports.”

Sophomores Hannah Cook ’16 (avg .414, RBI 14), Jessica Nowak ’16 (avg .296, RBI 9), and Erin Wehrhen ’16 (avg .270, RBI 5) have increased their production this season, helping guide the Wildcats to the ODAC tournament. “I feel like my success this season has been embodied through my teammates. We were picked ninth in the preseason polls, so that really motivated us and we really came together this season and fed off of each other’s play,” said Hannah Cook ’16.

Juniors Patti Vinson ’15 (avg .260, RBI 17) and Haleigh Wilson ’15 (avg .260, RBI 6) have also sparked the team this season, helping provide toughness and stability. And seniors Britney Via ’14 and Logan Carter  ’14 have helped lead this year’s surge. Via owns a batting average of .304, with 24 hits, and 15 RBI’s. She also leads the conference with eight doubles. Carter is Randolph’s ace pitcher; she has started 14 games and has currently led the Wildcats ten of their 18 wins this season. Carter holds an ERA of 2.62 with a blistering 83 strikeouts. In addition, in nine of Carter’s ten wins she pitched the complete game. She also leads the ODAC in shutout with two.

The Wildcats will have six sets of double headers remaining this season. On Saturday April 5, 2014 the Wildcats will travel to Virginia Wesleyan College for an ODAC double header. The following day Randolph will return home to host Randolph-Macon College for senior day. Next Randolph will be on the road for four straight games as they take on Sweet Briar College and then follow that up with a double header at Roanoke College. On Tuesday April 15, 2014 the Wildcats will return home to face Emory& Henry College for “Green Day” for liver cancer awareness. Randolph will wrap up its season on April 19, 2014 as they travel to Guilford College.

The Wildcats are currently ranked fourth in the ODAC standings. They will look to be playing the best ball as their season winds down and they get ready for the ODAC tournament. “We just want to stay focused and take it one game at a time. We can’t be effected by past wins or losses; the postseason is a whole new season. We understand that we have a target on our back, we just have to play our game,” said Cook ’16.

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