Pitching & Defense to Lead Statesmen Softball
Softball pursuits will debate whether pitching and defense wins championships or does a high-scoring offense bring home the hardware. But for Richard Bland College's second-year head coach Troy Jacobs, the foundation of the 2020 season will rely heavily on his pitching staff and the ability of his defense to keep opponents in check.
The spring season is rapidly approaching for the Statesmen. RBC opens its season on February 8 with a daunting task: A challenging game against NCAA Division III powerhouse Virginia Wesleyan, winners of the 2017 and 2018 National Championship. RBC will travel to Virginia Wesleyan for a 10 am game, and then meet Patrick Henry at 2 pm.
The Statesmen will play an aggressive 52-game schedule, the first nine on the road before hosting the College of Southern Maryland in the home opener on March 1 at 1 pm.
"I expect the team to excel and compete in the Region X Conference," says Jacobs. "I think the team is capable of big things this season, but it will come down to pitching and defense. Like all teams early in the season, our margin of error is going to drive our outcomes, but the most important thing is to be playing our best softball come the Region X Tournament in May."
Sophomore Kiara Toler leads a pitching staff that may feature as many as five pitchers depending on how the maturation process pans out. Toler appeared in 15 games last season, starting in 12 of them, and often times showing flashes of brilliance in the circle.
"With our pitching, we will be able to control the game better and hopefully hold back some of the bigger hitters we will face this season," says Jacobs. Other pitchers likely to see action this season include freshmen Ellen Palya, Rachel Watson, Jackie Westfall, and Gabby Shrum. "I expect tighter games this season, and I am confident our rotation will keep us competitive in every game," says Jacobs.
A pair of sophomore catches in Brittany Cobb and Teri Jackson will be called upon to help manage the RBC pitching corps.
The Statesmen return seven players from last year's team that finished 17-23 but made a deep run in the Region X Tournament, pushing eventual champion USC Salkehtachie to the brink in a 4-3 n elimination game loss that saw RBC score three clutch runs in the seventh inning.
Key returners include outfielder Amanda Lipford, infielder/catcher Madison Kelley, outfielder Haley Godfrey, and outfielder Kendra Cattanach.
"Our offseason workouts focusing on hitting should enable us to match our competition," says Jacobs. "We have a strong group of returning sophomores that are powerful and a new group of freshmen that are eager to improve."
In addition to the aforementioned freshmen pitching group, newcomers Adaisia Randolph, Jamie Fields, Callie Humphrey, Elexus Simpson, and Misty Even, all outfielders, add considerable depth to the lineup. Infielder Madison Rice will sure-up the RBC defense at shortstop.
"I want the team to be peaking by region time, and playing an aggressive schedule will allow that," says Jacobs. "By the time we get to the Conference Tournament our freshmen will be comfortable and our sophomores will have led the team and help ensure we're at the top of our game."