For the Virginia softball team, the 2007 season has been one of disappointments. Despite all of the setbacks, the Cavaliers will take on non-ACC opponent Longwood today in a doubleheader and aim to pick up a few wins before the start of the ACC tournament.
This pair of games comes on the heels of another subpar ACC series for the Cavaliers (14-30, 1-14 ACC), who were most recently swept by N.C. State this weekend by scores of 6-2, 7-2 and 12-0.
Although the Cavaliers have performed below expectations thus far, they are hopeful things will turn around when the ACC tournament begins.
"We're trying to establish some form of consistency with pitching so we can try to make a run in the conference tournament," Virginia coach Karen Johns said.
Virginia is more familiar with the Lancers (18-14) than with most of its other opponents because it also played them in the fall, defeating them 8-4.
"They have a very good pitching staff, good hitting and one of the best shortstops in the nation," Johns said. "We're going to have our hands full."
The great shortstop Johns referenced is junior Ryan Washington, currently batting .461. As a freshman and sophomore, Washington earned all Division I All-Independent First Team honors. Washington's bat has improved every year, and her batting average continues to rise. As a freshman, she had a .373 average and last season hit for a .426 average.
Longwood features two other players batting at least .300 in freshman outfielder Camille Ketsdever (.327) and junior outfielder Caitlin Hooe (.302).
In the circle, Longwood has two above-average hurlers in junior Rachel Mills and freshman Ashley Forsyth. Mills leads the team with an impressive 0.99 ERA. Her record is 8-4. Forsyth leads the team in wins with nine and has a low ERA of 2.77.
The ACC tournament looms large in the Cavaliers' future and as of now, Johns' players are looking to surprise the league and take away a title.
"Our team goals now are to win the ACC tournament," freshman third baseman Abby Snyder said. "With what we have left, we couldn't have a winning record even if we won the rest of our games. That's everyone's main focus because we can still win the tournament."
Team members maintain that despite the difficult season, these goals are not out of reach.
"The big thing is keeping the momentum going," Johns said. "The good thing about conference championships, if you can pull it all together, is you can win them," and keep the season alive.
For Virginia to achieve this goal, a drastic turnaround is needed, one that players hope to initiate today.
"As a team we are working on good communication on defense and staying relaxed while maintaining an intensity level," Snyder said. "I think we did that well in practice today."
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