Softball team looks toward the future and hopes to end season atop the Valley.

Ryan Holmgren Sports Reporter

April 20, 2010

Over the last three weeks, the Jays soft- ball team has been on a bit of a rollercoaster, the type of rollercoaster a team rides when it follows a seven game losing streak by winning seven of eight games. What’s the biggest differ- ence between three weeks ago and today?

“We’re smiling a lot more,” said senior pitcher Tara Oltman, who is atop the Creighton record books in nearly every pitching category.

Along with smiling more, many things on the field have changed.

“Everything is really starting to come together. We’re playing good defense and are hitting the ball well,” said senior first baseman Renae Sinkler.

The Jays have put up eight runs in five of their last six games including a 12-0 rout of Wichita State.

“The bats have really come around. We’ve scored a lot of runs,” Oltman said. “When our defense isn’t at its best, that really helps.”

With just a few weeks of the regular sea- son left, the Jays sit six games behind Missouri Valley Conference leader Southern Illinois. Yet they remain confident they can finish out the conference schedule strong and pursue their goals of winning the MVC championship and making the NCAA tournament.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how far we can go,” said Sinkler, the Jays’ career home run record holder. “I’m excited to see how long we can ride this high stretch. We can accomplish a lot and I hope we keep growing.”

For the team’s six seniors, this is their last chance to leave Creighton on top. Coach Brent Vigness said he is fortunate to have their experience and leadership as the season winds down.

“Our seniors provide a tremendous ad- vantage,” he said. “They aren’t satisfied by any means. They’ve played in so many big games throughout their careers; their experience should be a huge factor.”

This group of seniors has been successful over the last three years. They are the three- time defending regular season Valley champi- ons, but their only MVC Tourney champion- ship came in 2007 when they were freshmen.

Winning the conference tournament is their ultimate goal, which is something last year’s squad was unable to do when they lost a nail- biter 2-0 to Bradley in the title game.

“A lot of people on the team are still re- ally disappointed after last year,” Oltman said. “We know that the regular season is not the most important thing, and I think that’s

an advantage.” If they can continue their recent winning

ways, they have a chance to live up to their preseason expectations and end the seasons with the title of Missouri Valley Conference Champions. That would give the team a reason to smile; something they seem to be getting used to.