One Game Shy of Playoffs: Softball Inaugural Season Recap
The year 2018 marked as the first softball season in Bryant & Stratton College-Wisconsin history since launching athletics...
WAUWATOSA, WI (May 3, 2018) - The year 2018 marked as the first softball season in Bryant & Stratton College-Wisconsin history since launching athletics in 2016. Bobcats head coach Troy Engibous began building the progam back in December 2016 and can officially put the first season in the books.
Finishing 4-20-1 overall and 3-16 in region competition, the Bobcats record does not reflect on the success of the program this season.
"Starting a program isn't an opportunity many coaches get at the college level," Bobcats head coach Troy Engibous said. "I took a lot of pride from the day I started to put a quality product on the field."
As a team, the Bobcats scored a total of 114 runs, 101 RBI's and recorded a batting average of .303.
"This group should not be defined by our win and loss record," Engibous said. "I want to win more than anybody but starting a program takes some time to build and I saw a lot of growth from this group throughout the season which was awesome."
After a 1-13-1 start, the Bobcats were able to win three out of six region games towards the back end of their season which put them just one win away from playoff qualification.
Competing with a nine-player roster, the Bobcats battled each and every game losing eight out of the 20 losses by three runs or less.
"It is hard to describe what this group of girls did in the first year of program existence," Engibous said. "I told them after our last games that I could not be more proud of them and they not only got better on the diamond but they got super close as a team which is just as rewarding. This group deserves a lot of credit from all of the compliments I received from opposing coaches, fans and umpires; which I am glad was recognized by many."
With a roster full of freshman, the Bobcats had many individual athletes standout this season. Pitcher, Alex Villalobos earned Second Team District B All-Region after throwing every inning (140), earning four wins with a 6.60 ERA and recorded 90 strikeouts. She also batted .419 with 31 hits and 10 RBI's.
Shortstop, Heather Anderson, concluded the season with a 31 hits, 24 RBI's, two homeruns and batting average of .369. Kayla Jaskulski (CF) ended the season with a .369 batting average including 31 hits and 24 RBI's.
Catching every inning beind the plate for the Bobcats, Melissa Biefeld tacked on total of 24 hits, 22 RBI's and a .316 batting average. Tori Golden (3B) finished the year with 26 hits, 14 RBI's, five doubles and a .329 batting average.
Brooke Masi (2B) and Meghan Strasser (LF) added 17 hits and a .254 batting average followed by Amanda Zane (RF) with 12 hits and Maria Carmona (1B) with 10 hits.
With year one in the Books, the Bobcats will workout this offseason as they look to make significant improvements for next year as they hope to make a playoff run.