Coming off an 18-32 record in 2017, the Creighton softball team is optimistic about its group dynamic heading into the 2018 season. With a steady group of freshmen mixing with some experienced veterans, the team has high hopes for a successful season.
“This year we are hoping to just be more successful on the field,” coach Brent Vigness said. “Hopefully our cohesiveness can do that for us.”
Vigness, entering his 25th season at Creighton, sees potential in this group because of their ability to work together.
“I see a good chance in our play because of our versatility and our depth,” Vigness said about his team’s abilities. “These girls have a lot of respect for each other and respect for the game. They enjoy one another and they enjoy playing.”
The team hopes this dynamic will be evident in its play throughout the season. This season, the Jays will play multiple quality teams, including Minnesota, who is ranked in the top 20 in the preseason polls.
“We won some big games last season, we just didn’t finish as strong as we would’ve liked in the end,” said senior infielder Tash Coffiel. She also sees potential to improve through the opponents the Jays face this year. “Our games are challenging, but it will be a good way to prepare us for Big East play,” said Coffiel.
From a player’s perspective, Coffiel knows this team has a good chance to improve for the same reason Vigness does.
“We have a lot of newcomers so we just need to be sure we’re on the same page, but I think it’s good for us because it’s clear we all have the same mindset and same goal,” Coffiel said.
The team has seven freshmen this year to go along with five seniors, five juniors and six sophomores, which leaves a good mixture of youth and experience. Coffiel, along with sophomore Ashley Cantu, who was second-team All-Big East last year, are two of numerous players Vigness and his coaching staff are proud to have back as leaders for the new players. This leadership will especially be valued early in the season, as the group adjusts to a new year of play.
“Our focus is our first weekend and being aware of wherever we start, and that we continue to get better each game,” Vigness said in regard to their first run of games.
The Jays were picked to finish fifth, receving 23 points in the 2018 preseason softball coaches’ poll, with defending regular-season champion St. John’s picked first, receiving 46 points and four first place votes. Creighton was picked to finish fifth last year and ended up finishing sixth without an invitation to the Big East Championship. The team starts its season next week at the Sportco Kickoff Classic (Feb. 9-11) in Las Vegas with its first game against UNLV.