Club Softball looks to build on promising fall season
After finishing last season with a 1-14 record, the Kent State Club Softball team rebounded this fall with a 4-5 mark.
In the NCSA (National Club Softball Association) Division I, the Golden Flashes are located in the Great American-East Conference. This conference includes Kent State, Ohio University, West Virginia University, Pitt, Slippery Rock, and Youngstown State.
The team is led by first-year president-elect and pitcher Lexi Davis.
“The president last year had a lot of other commitments, and I just wanted to step in and help with that,” Davis said. “I have learned to be proactive and not wait until the last minute.”
Davis said numerous things can be attributed to the improvement.
“We added some new players, girls who were more committed than previous teams,” she said.
Commitment and discipline have been a major area of focus for the Flashes. Without coaches to run a club team, those responsibilities fall solely on the players.
“There is more commitment this year due to the enforcement of team rules and going to practices,” Vice-President and outfielder Olivia O’Malley said. “We have also been trying to improve the atmosphere so that more people want to join the team.”
Even with an improved roster and a full offseason, the team is still looking into how it can improve going into the spring season.
“I expect to commit fewer errors, and just to play better as a team,” O’Malley said. “Going into the fall season, we only had a handful of practices before games started, so communication was tough. A full offseason should help us grow as a team.”
Goals for the spring season have been set. With improved communication, the team has set its sights on continuing to build towards a winning season.
“Based on last year, we want to be above .500 and have a winning record,” Davis said.
Despite demonstrating major improvement, the Flashes are looking to continue building upon what was a promising fall season. With only 13 girls, they have open roster spots.
“Catcher for sure, outfield, and corners. Honestly, we want people who can play multiple positions and are versatile,” Davis said.
The season opener starts early in the spring, as they are hosted for a three-game series at Pitt on March 23, 2025. Two weeks later, they will travel to Athens for another three-game conference series. While additional home games are still being finalized, they will be hosted at Allerton Sports Complex.
As the Flashes head into the spring season, they remain confident that they will build upon their fall start. With new leadership and greater commitment, they aim to continue in the right direction.
“Overall, I feel like the board is better at communication this season, I think that can lead us to success throughout the season,” junior utility player Hannah Lafevre said.
