Virginia softball begins the 2004 season Friday with unfinished business to take care of. Following a 10-2 defeat to Florida State in the finals of the ACC Championships last season, the Cavaliers enter their 2004 campaign determined to claim the conference title that has eluded them since 1994.
After missing the regional tournament for the last three seasons, Virginia must win the ACC championship or receive an at-large bid to make the tournament field this year. This year's class of seniors in particular is determined to make the most of their last shot at post-season play.
"When we came to winter workouts, the first thing we said is that our season ends in July," senior captain Heather Field said. "Our main goal is to make it to regionals. Whether we make it further and into the World Series, we just know we are going to make it to regionals."
Field and fellow senior captain Hannah Owings lead a team that will rely heavily on the contribution of its younger players. With only three seniors on the team, a highly-touted recruiting class will be counted on to log significant innings from the first game forward.
"This first-year class is very strong," coach Cheryl Sprangel said. "They are strong in numbers, but also strong in potential and ability."
The incoming players are not the only ones garnering attention this offseason. Coach Sprangel was recently named to the Toledo Varsity Hall of Fame where she coached for 14 years prior to joining the Cavaliers. Since moving to Virginia, Sprangel's teams have compiled a 234-157 (.598) record.
Despite Virginia's high expectations for the upcoming season, the players and coaches realize that they have both strengths to emphasize and weaknesses that still need to be improved. With three of the four infield spots filled by returning starters who perform well at the plate, the Cavaliers will hope to neutralize their competition's offense by simply out-hitting them.
"Our biggest strength is we can rip the ball," Owings said. "We are going to score a lot of runs. A lot of numbers we put up in the fall were baseball scores, not softball scores."
In addition to hitting, the Cavaliers think they have one of the most cohesive units in recent years. Team chemistry was stressed by the players as well as by Sprangel as a component that should set this team apart from its opponents.
"Our team chemistry is the best it has ever been in my four years here," Field said. "Our gel is wonderful. It's nice to be on a team where everyone gets along. We are all kind of there for each other and we all enjoy playing with each other."
The Cavaliers' strengths will surely be put to the test on their west coast road trip over Spring Break. Facing perennially-ranked teams such as California and Fresno State, key victories would allow for Virginia to gain the national reputation that they have traditionally lacked in the eyes of the regional selection committee.
Softball's first opportunity to put their newfound closeness to the test will be this weekend at the Triangle Classic in Raleigh, N.C. With the ACC championships held in mid-May and regionals after that, Virginia is looking forward to a very long, and very successful, 2004 season.
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