05/2/08
The softball team’s season came to an end Saturday, and it definitely wasn’t the way the team wanted it to turn out.
The Wildcats put up a fight against Graceland University, but they came up short in both games of the doubleheader, losing 9-4 and 13-8.
The games illustrated the odd circumstances and overall adversity the team faced throughout the season because the contests were only the fourth set of home games during the year for Baker.
Head coach Jennifer Rigdon said she has never been involved with a team that has faced so much adversity during a single season but has high hopes for next year.
“It was a very challenging season,” she said. “I’m definitely not leaving with a horrible feeling inside, though. I still feel very optimistic.”
Freshman Kayla Brown said the future is looking good for the Wildcats because of all the youth on the softball roster.
“We have a bunch of returning players,” Brown said. “We recruited a bunch of girls. We still have only room to go up.”
Rigdon said five recruits have signed on to attend school at Baker and join the Wildcat squad as well as two more she is attempting to have join on.
She added that one pitcher, a few infielders and an outfielder, have a chance to make immediate impacts for the team next season.
Freshman Kim Gilges believes the team has the ability to come back refreshed and ready to compete next season.
“If we all work hard during the summer and improve and come back in the fall ready to play, we’ll surprise some people,” she said.
Rigdon said the Wildcats did take some positives away from the difficult season.
“We stuck with it,” Rigdon said. “We maintained our positive attitudes. We focused on the things that we have control of.”
Gilges added that the team worked together and continued to develop despite the circumstances.
“We always worked hard and improved a lot during the season,” Gilges said. “We played as a team.”
The Wildcats finished with a 3-26 record. Their first win came against Dana College from Blair, Neb., in the Show Me State Tournament held in Springfield, Mo.
They then added two victories in April against conference rivals MidAmerica Nazarene University and Missouri Valley College.
Gilges said the team has lots of talent and potential, and that coach Rigdon did a solid job of putting together a team.
“We have a very talented team,” she said. “We all mesh together. Coach did really well picking out the talent to make up the team.”