Boston College Athletics
Experience Key for Eagles' Run in 2016
February 11, 2016 | Softball
BC returns pretty much all of its core
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – This was a season three years in the making for the Boston College softball team.
In 2014, backed by a scrappy and confident group of players, the Eagles halted a stretch of five consecutive years of losing by putting together the team's first 30-win season since 2008. That was followed by a 27-24 campaign that saw the rise of several younger players.
This season, veteran leadership is the name of the game for Boston College.
"Without a doubt we're an experienced team," said fifth-year head coach Ashley Obrest. "I would even go a step further and say that we have also added a great deal of depth to this roster. The flexibility and options that we will have this year is something that this program has not seen."
As it stands, the team has the building blocks to create something special. The Eagles return each of their top seven hitters, all eight of their home run hitters and all three of the pitchers who recorded at least two appearances.
Senior Megan Cooley, who holds three single-season records, will look to close out a sensational career on a high note. Meanwhile, junior Tatiana Cortez will look to continue her dominance at the plate after leading the team in batting average (.309), home runs (10) and RBI's (39) last season. And you can bet Obrest and the rest of the staff are excited for what pitcher Allyson Frei, last season's ACC leader in strikeouts (228), can do in her sophomore season.
Sprinkle in a little depth behind that and it all could add up to a little cause for concern among those slated to face Boston College in 2016.
"The experience of the older kids will definitely help," said senior infielder Jessie Daulton. "But I think the freshman we added this season will be key to what we're doing and in helping us get those big wins against teams in the ACC."
In total, the Eagles will be adding five fresh faces to the mix in pitcher Kendra Friedt, catcher/first baseman Allyson Moore, outfielder Loren DiEmmanuele, infielder Danielle Thomas and shortstop/second baseman Carly Severini.
But if you expected any kind of hazing or initiation period, don't hold your breath. The rest of the team has welcomed the freshmen with open arms, helping them ease into the transition from high school to college.
It's a quality that might be Boston College's strength.
"Everyone is probably looking for me to say our strength is in our hitting, pitching, speed or defense, but everyone in the country has those pieces," Obrest said. "For us, it's that these young ladies are a family and that certainly goes much farther than speed and defense. When you have a group that collectively has the same aspirations and goals, good things will happen."
That close bond will be necessary for an Eagles team that has quite the schedule ahead of it.
The team will go 27 games before playing its first home game on March 23 against Bryant. Furthermore, aside from the tough competition that comes from facing ACC opposition, Boston College will play 14 teams that reached NCAA regionals in 2015, including College World Series' participants Oregon and Auburn.
It's a task that has helped keep the team grounded.
"We know that in order to reach our goals, there are smaller goals we need to hit in order to get there," said senior outfielder Megan Cooley. "Our main goal is to win the ACC title, but in order to get there we need to play well in our ACC series. In order to do that, we need to play well in our weekday games. And in order to win those games, we have to work hard in practice.
"So while getting that ACC ring is our main goal, we understand that doesn't happen if we don't take care of the smaller goals first."
In 2014, backed by a scrappy and confident group of players, the Eagles halted a stretch of five consecutive years of losing by putting together the team's first 30-win season since 2008. That was followed by a 27-24 campaign that saw the rise of several younger players.
This season, veteran leadership is the name of the game for Boston College.
"Without a doubt we're an experienced team," said fifth-year head coach Ashley Obrest. "I would even go a step further and say that we have also added a great deal of depth to this roster. The flexibility and options that we will have this year is something that this program has not seen."
As it stands, the team has the building blocks to create something special. The Eagles return each of their top seven hitters, all eight of their home run hitters and all three of the pitchers who recorded at least two appearances.
Senior Megan Cooley, who holds three single-season records, will look to close out a sensational career on a high note. Meanwhile, junior Tatiana Cortez will look to continue her dominance at the plate after leading the team in batting average (.309), home runs (10) and RBI's (39) last season. And you can bet Obrest and the rest of the staff are excited for what pitcher Allyson Frei, last season's ACC leader in strikeouts (228), can do in her sophomore season.
Sprinkle in a little depth behind that and it all could add up to a little cause for concern among those slated to face Boston College in 2016.
"The experience of the older kids will definitely help," said senior infielder Jessie Daulton. "But I think the freshman we added this season will be key to what we're doing and in helping us get those big wins against teams in the ACC."
In total, the Eagles will be adding five fresh faces to the mix in pitcher Kendra Friedt, catcher/first baseman Allyson Moore, outfielder Loren DiEmmanuele, infielder Danielle Thomas and shortstop/second baseman Carly Severini.
But if you expected any kind of hazing or initiation period, don't hold your breath. The rest of the team has welcomed the freshmen with open arms, helping them ease into the transition from high school to college.
It's a quality that might be Boston College's strength.
"Everyone is probably looking for me to say our strength is in our hitting, pitching, speed or defense, but everyone in the country has those pieces," Obrest said. "For us, it's that these young ladies are a family and that certainly goes much farther than speed and defense. When you have a group that collectively has the same aspirations and goals, good things will happen."
That close bond will be necessary for an Eagles team that has quite the schedule ahead of it.
The team will go 27 games before playing its first home game on March 23 against Bryant. Furthermore, aside from the tough competition that comes from facing ACC opposition, Boston College will play 14 teams that reached NCAA regionals in 2015, including College World Series' participants Oregon and Auburn.
It's a task that has helped keep the team grounded.
"We know that in order to reach our goals, there are smaller goals we need to hit in order to get there," said senior outfielder Megan Cooley. "Our main goal is to win the ACC title, but in order to get there we need to play well in our ACC series. In order to do that, we need to play well in our weekday games. And in order to win those games, we have to work hard in practice.
"So while getting that ACC ring is our main goal, we understand that doesn't happen if we don't take care of the smaller goals first."
Players Mentioned
C/3B
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
C/1B
/ Softball
SS/2B
/ Softball
IF
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