NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State softball team closed the book on its 2014 fall season last week with an offensive explosion against Heartland Community College. While most games played during the fall were situational-type games and no records were kept, the progress across the board was noticeable.
The Redbirds are a young team with seven newcomers on the roster. However, the new faces progressed nicely as the fall season moved along and were crucial to ISU's success.
"I thought Caitlyn Daly had a great fall season," said head coach Melinda Fischer. "I thought she progressed really well for us from both an offensive and defensive standpoint. She hasn't played a lot of first base, but that's what we focused on with her and she made some great strides."
Daly's bat was consistent throughout the fall as she went 6-13 (.432) with three runs and four runs batted in. Her batting average led the team.
Freshman pitcher Sarah Finck also made a splash, leading the team in innings pitched and striking out 11 hitters. Finck allowed just two runs on the season while scattering nine hits.
"Sarah has plenty of natural ability," said Fischer. "She's been in a position where that has certainly benefitted her. Combine that with what we're teaching her and what she has learned in the program and I think she has a tremendous future ahead of her."
The freshmen weren't the only ones producing for ISU this fall. The Redbirds need their upperclassmen to be sharp and there were plenty of positive signs. Regan Romshek was her usual self in the circle striking out 14 hitters. She also hit .313 and tied for the team-lead in runs with six.
Jordan de los Reyes led the team in RBIs with seven while hitting in the cleanup spot. Perhaps the most important role ISU will need to fill is the leadoff spot and Annie Heineman did her job in the role. She led the team in hits and runs scored with eight and six respectively.
Just as important as what they do on the field, the veterans will have to lead in the dugout and locker room. Fischer was pleased with what she saw during the fall.
"The leadership has certainly grown through the course of the fall season," said Fischer. "Sometimes when you haven't been in that captain's or leadership role you aren't certain what to expect or what's expected of you. I think we spelled out expectations fairly well to them and they have really settled in."
Now, the focus shifts to individual work in the weight room and batting cages. The team's sights are set on Feb. 6 when they open up the 2015 season at the University of South Florida. ISU is coming off of a second-place finish in the MVC in 2014.
"Collectively, we have to get better in every area," said Fischer. "From the first day of practice to the last game of the fall season we made great strides. We know what it looks like when the team is in the position they need to be and we know we still have room to grow."
