Softball – The Oberlin Review

The sixth annual “Play Like a Girl” sports clinic took place Feb. 9. Girls aged five to 12 worked with Oberlin’s student-athletes to learn how to play soccer, softball, basketball, volleyball, lacrosse, and field hockey. The goal of the event was to show young girls that sports can be enjoyed by everyone and, through Oberlin student-athletes to, provide strong female role models. College second-year and varsity softball player Cat Moruzzi enjoys the regular event because it reminds her of how she started playing sports at a young age.
“It is important to make girls feel like they have power in such male-dominated activities from a young age,” she said. “Many life lessons can come from sports, so if girls learn the importance of confidence and perseverance from a young age, they will be able to conquer any obstacle in front of them.”

“Play Like a Girl” Seeks to Provide Role Models

February 14, 2020

The women’s softball team was recognized by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association for its work in the classroom during the 2018–19 academic year. In order to receive this honor, teams must meet a minimum GPA requirement of 3.0, and the softball team went above and beyond this benchmark, earning a 3.42 grade point average as a team. Active communication with both coaches and professors is crucial to balancing academic and athletic responsibilities, in addition to the support of teammates.

“Our coaches are very respectful of our time,” College third-year Emily Tucci said. “For example, they create a detailed google calendar months in advance for our fall and spring seasons and make sure to check in with us before making sudden changes to the schedule. Also, they make sure to start and end practices on time as they know many of us have jobs and school work. Many of us [players] go to the Science Library, Mudd Center, or places to do homework together after practice and dinner. We also have lots of support from each other within the groups of girls who have similar majors.”

Varsity Softball Recognized for Academic Excellence

October 11, 2019

Glendenning presents her research on cell communication.

Leandre Glendenning, Biologist and Softball Player

September 27, 2019

College fourth-year Leandre Glendenning is from Concord, CA. As a varsity softball player majoring in Biology and French and minoring in Religion and Chemistry, Glendenning can be found in all corners of campus. She has conducted biological research about cells and genetics. In her spare time, she knits and crochets for various charities, including Knit-a-Square, Project Linus, and Alice’s Embrace — all of which provide blankets and knitwear to those in need around the world. When consider...

Former Varsity Athletes Find That, After Athletics, Life Goes On

Khalid McCalla, Contributing Sports Editor

September 27, 2019

Athletics play a significant role in many Obies’ college experience. Roughly 350 students — over ten percent of the student body — are part of the 21 varsity sports teams offered by the College. Club and intramural sports provide a fun way for students to stay active and compete with one another without the time commitment of a varsity sport. These athletes’ reasons for participating can range from finally trying a sport they have watched for years to the fulfillment of a lifelong dream of participating in college athletics. Most athletes assume that their career will last all four years. However, for many Oberlin athletes, this isn’t the case. Whether it be the result of injuries, or overcommitti...

College first-year Vianca Dagnino looks forward to being an integral part of the softball team’s successes this spring.

Vianca Dagnino Begins Oberlin Softball Career After Years with Peruvian National Team

February 8, 2019

The routine of the average high school student is simple: Go to school, attend classes and other extracurricular activities, and then return home to do homework for the following school day. For Vianca Dagnino, a first-year catcher on Oberlin’s varsity softball team, high school was a bit different. While her peers were at school in her home state of California, Dagnino was getting hits off softball legends like Monica Abbott. Since the age of 13, Dagnino has been an active membe...

Senior Student-Athletes Must Balance Athletics, Academics, Impending Graduation

Alexis Dill, Sports Editor

November 9, 2018

At the conclusion of her junior year, College senior and softball player Emma Downing was unsure if she should apply to the Honors Program in History. She didn’t think she would get in — only seven students were accepted this year — and even if she did, she didn’t know if her schedule would allow for it. Nevertheless, she decided to take the plunge. “There weren’t any other classes I wanted to take, and I wanted to push myself academically and see what I could accomplish,” Downing said. “I knew that coming up with a question and researching it all year to write a 60-page paper would be the hardest thing I’ve ever done academically.” The History and Russian & East European Studies double-major ...

First-year catcher and shortstop Maddison Paladino steps into the box in a game against Denison University April 7. Paladino started all 34 games of her first season, collecting 14 hits, eight RBIs, and 13 walks.

Softball Sweeps Terriers, Falls to Crusaders

April 27, 2018

The softball team closed their season against the Capital University Crusaders Thursday, dropping the first game 9–1 and the second game 2–1. Although they ended with an overall record of 8–26 and a 3–13 record in North Coast Athletic Conference play, they have some momentum to carry into next spring. Against the Hiram College Terriers, the Yeowomen earned their first conference sweep since 2014. Since eight of their 18 players are first-years — and over half of the first-years are starters ...

First-year pitcher Emily Tucci prepares to deliver a pitch against Grinnell College on March 22. Tucci has been a major addition to the softball team, boasting a team-low 2.72 ERA in 13 appearances and adding 14 hits and three home runs through 18 games.

Softball Earns Split Against Kenyon Ladies, Falls to Allegheny Gators

April 6, 2018

The Yeowomen recorded their first win against rival Kenyon College Ladies in three years in their first week of North Coast Athletic Conference play last weekend 14–12. However, it was the only win they recorded, as they split the doubleheader against the Ladies on Saturday, and dropped both games of their double header against the Allegheny College Gators Wednesday 2–9 and 2–8. Going into the Wednesday games, Head Coach Sara Schoenhoft — who is in her third year with the program — was o...

Yeowomen Softball Seeks to Improve on 12-Win Season

Alex McNicoll, Sports Editor

March 9, 2018

The Yeowomen softball team enters the spring 2018 season with both their largest-ever team and largest-ever first-year class following a year in which they improved their record from 2–35 to 12–28. With their lone All-NCAC Second Team select sophomore infielder Alexis Dill returning, along with junior center fielder Emma Downing — who led the team in batting average (.374), on-base percentage (.500), and runs scored (33) — the team will look to continue their development. Head Coach Sara Schoenhoft, who enters her third year in the program and has seen to the rapid growth of the Yeowomen squad, said she wants to see their improvement carry over into North Coast Athletic Conference games. “The goal was just to...

Senior captain Grace Evans connects with a pitch against Wittenberg University on Senior Day last Saturday. The Yeowomen finished their season 12–28 overall and 2–14 in the NCAC.

Softball Ends 2017 Run, Splits Hiram Doubleheader

April 28, 2017

The softball team concluded their season Tuesday evening with a split against North Coast Athletic Conference rival, the Hiram College Terriers. Although the Yeowomen failed to make the NCAC Tournament, they saw improvements across the board in offensive and defensive categories — and most importantly in wins. The team took the first game against the Terriers 11–7 in an 11-inning thriller before dropping the season finale 5–3. Seniors Tori Poplaski, Grace Evans and Sami Mericle concluded...

In The Locker Room with Softball

April 7, 2017

This week, the Review sat down with sophomore center fielder Emma Downing and senior pitcher Tori Poplaski to discuss the recent success of the softball team. The team broke the record for wins on spring break, earning six victories over the course of the week. After dropping their first two conference games to Kenyon College last Saturday, the Yeowomen split with Allegheny College on Wednesday, winning the first contest 6–1 and dropping the second 8–2. Downing currently boasts the best batting...

Junior Dana Goldstein hits an incoming pitch in the Yeowomen’s home opener against the Wilmington College Fighting Quakers. Oberlin split the doubleheader against Wilmington, winning game one 6–2 before falling 6–5 in the second.

Yeowomen Show New Promise in Opening Games

March 31, 2017

Thriving in the sunshine state, softball set a program record for spring break wins, going 6–6 in a week of non-conference games. The Yeowomen then returned from Florida for their home opener, splitting a doubleheader with the Wilmington College Fighting Quakers. Oberlin won game one 6–2 before dropping the nightcap 6–5. After winning just eight games over the past two seasons, the Yeowomen have already racked up 7 wins and are 7–11 overall. Junior pitcher Sandra Kibble credits the team’s...