The softball team has been a force to contend with for their competitors this season. They are on a six-game winning streak with a record of 11-5, and there is an expectation that they will be one of the top teams in the conference this year.
“This team has what it takes to get the job done as long as we continue to stay with what has given us the success we have currently achieved,” Nan Payne, softball coach, said.
Jess Stoltz, senior and four-year member of the team also has beliefs that this could be their year to reach the top.
“I have no doubt in my mind that we can win the OAC. We can hit, and we’ve got the defense to back it up. But even more importantly we’ve finally gotten a confident mindset that we can beat anyone…and we will” Stoltz said.
During their streak of six straight wins, the team has outscored their opponents by a combined 38 runs.
Not only are the members of the team themselves contributors to the success this year, but coach Nan Payne could also be a huge factor.
Payne has been coaching softball at Capital for 14 seasons and coached 8 years prior to coming to Capital.
The team says she has done an excellent job passing down her wealth of knowledge and motivation to the members of the team.
“I absolutely love coaching here at Capital and working with this team each year. They are a great group of players with tremendous work ethic, passion, and togetherness. And, together from our coaching staff to our players, we unite as a family and continue to work together to accomplish our team’s goals,” Payne said.
Payne works with two other coaches, who are also very well thought of by the team, and players say all three have done an excellent job to push the team to better themselves by holding them to a very high standard.
The team started very strong in Florida and Maryland, and had their first home game Monday night, which they won.
The seniors are especially driven to make their last season a winning one. After growing so close to their softball family, it is especially hard to leave them behind and move on. It only pushes them harder however to make sure they do not regret anything about this season.
The next Capital softball game will be against John Carroll this Saturday at 1 p.m. at Clowson Field.
