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Ready to ‘Shock the Valley?’: Softball season preview

Senior catcher Maria Schroeder tags out a runner at the plate in a game last year against Missouri State.
Photo via Scout archives

Despite the Bradley softball team struggled last year in conference play, the Braves keep their heads up going into the 2018 season.

Last year, the team finished with a 21-32 record but have stayed above the 17-win mark for the past six seasons. Head coach Amy Hayes said she looks to make up for last season’s record.

“We started off and had one of the best pre-seasons to date for this program and hit conference and just didn’t perform,” Hayes said. “Things did not click for us once we hit conference.”

This year, a preseason poll by the Missouri Valley Conference coaches ranked Bradley eighth out of the ten conference teams. Senior Maria Schroeder said she was not surprised by the result of the poll.

“Every year I’ve been here, we’ve been ranked on the back end,” Schroeder said. “I think it’s just motivation, and everybody is underestimating us, so we pretty much go into the season with nothing to lose.”

Even though the Braves were ranked in the bottom five, they were not detered and developed a new team motto titled “Shock the Valley.” It plays to the team’s identity of being considered underrated.

“This year we’re taking on the underdog identity … that identity of ‘Why not us?'” Schroeder said.

Hayes said she believes creating the motto will set an important tone for the team.

“They feel underrepresented, but [they have] got to prove that,” Hayes said. “If you want people to respect you, then you have to respect yourself first.”

This year’s team features four new freshmen: Taise Thompson, Stacia Seeton, Vicki Zaluske and Jillian Navaro. Navaro is one player both Schroeder and Hayes said they are looking forward to watching.

“Jillian Navaro will be our starter in center field, and she’s an exciting, exciting player,” Hayes said. “She’s got some uncanny athletic ability. She can run down any ball. She’s got power at the plate. She’s that kid who finds the way to get it done.”

According to Schroeder, she believes all four freshmen can make an impact right away. With a new class of players, comes new goals for the team.

Although the poll ranks the team low, Schroeder said they have their eyes set at the top of the conference.

“We want to finish top four in our conference,” Schroeder said. “We want to finish at least .500 in our preseason.”

According to Schroeder, the team’s strengths lie in the offense. Pitching and batting are the team’s better skills while playing defense needs improvement. Keeping team chemistry stable has also provided the team a sense of support that helps improve each other’s game.

“We’re a pretty loose team,” Schroeder said. “We have a good balance of people who keep us on track but then people who keep it [fun]. We’ve gone through ups and downs like any teams, but I think the rough things we have been having only made us stronger and brought us closer.”

Schroeder said nerves and excitement always surround the first games of the year. The Braves will have a chance to face off against Washington, ranked as the fourth team in the nation. Hayes said she believes the team is ready for the test.

“[Bradley] always looks for that challenge,” Hayes said. “It’ll be a really big test for our pitchers. [Washington] is a very good hitting team, and they have got one of the top pitchers in the country, so our hitters are going to be quickly tested too.”

The Braves started the season with a 8-0 rout of Saint Louis Thursday. The Braves outhit the Bilikens 10 to one with Schroeder and Keeton each picking up two hits. Junior pitcher Julie Kestas earned the complete game shutout.

Bradley’s opening weekend continues with matches against Washington today at 2 p.m. and against Miami-Ohio at 4:30 p.m. at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria.

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