Mid-Season Report: Tigers Softball Squad Getting Back on Track in DVC

Record (through Thursday, May 5): 15-11 overall, 4-4 in the DVC

Coach Denise McCance’s mid-season team grade: B-

Update: The Tigers started out on fire, winning nine of their first 11 games, including going 4-1 during a spring break trip to Kentucky where they dominated their opposition. Like their cross-town rivals, the Tigers plunged into their second round of DVC play the first week of May. They started the week 2-4 in conference, and now find themselves at .500 with victories over West Aurora (9-2 on Monday) and Glenbard East (13-5 on Wednesday). They also hosted Naperville Central on Friday. Wheaton South is hitting .330 as a team and averaging around six runs per game. Pitching-wise, University of Minnesota recruit and Bekah Munday both have winning records (Granger sports a 1.32 ERA while Munday has a 2.09 ERA).

Quoting Coach McCance

On the team’s offense: “We’re doing well; we’re just not coming through in key situations. At the end of a game we’ll have seven, eight, nine hits but they’re not coming at meaningful times in the game. If you actually look at our stats next to the other teams, our stats are better. We’re just not executing when it’s time to execute.”

On the team’s defensive play: “We’re getting better; we’ve improved. We split a doubleheader with Downers South (April 23) but for the day we had six or seven errors. We’ve improved in the DVC games; we’ve had very few errors and are getting more consistent and improving. Our fielding percentage has gone up in the last week to 92 percent, but we want to get it up to 96.”

On the team’s pitching: “Hannah’s been pitching very well. She’s got a good changeup and she’s hitting her spots. We’ve been pitching her quite a bit. We really try to analyze each hitter and each team. She’s been very consistent sticking to the game plan and keeping us in a position where we can win the game. Bekah’s doing well and always keeps us in a position to keep us close. She’s not going to give up a lot of runs. They both have done well.”

On the most pleasant development so far this season, team-wise or individually: “Hannah’s pitching. I’m impressed with how consistent and strong she’s been. She’s pitched for her travel team, but she’s never really pitched for the varsity team (until this season). Not a lot of teams are getting many hits against her. That’s been the biggest surprise because pitching was our biggest question mark coming into the season. It’s really nice not to worry about it (pitching).”

On what the Tigers must do in order to be successful the rest of the season: “We have to find a way to win. We have a winning record and have had a lot of close games, but we’re capable of so much more. We’re a senior-dominated team and this is it: Your last time through here with the DVC and regionals. Each person has to look at themselves and say, ‘This is what I need to do to win.’ ”