Concordia softball finished out conference clinching the PacWest conference title for the sixth year in a row. The Golden Eagles wrapped up the regular season this week and will head into the conference championships on Wed., May 1 with the goal of winning it all.

As per usual, the softball team has absolutely dominated the league, finishing with a conference record of 23-3 at press time. While this year has been far from easy, thanks to the 48 regular season games, the players have definitely had a blast up to this point.

“Concordia softball has been good for a long time,” said Katlin Entrup, senior pitcher. “The pressure of playing for a good program is expected as pressure is a privilege. Every time we play a team they play like it’s the World Series. I just have to remember no moment is bigger than it is, at the end of the day it’s just softball. However, I’ve enjoyed the pressure because I like the challenge of continuing to be good.” 

“The key to winning [the] conference tournament is to keep doing what we have been doing,” said Entrup. “[We need] all aspects of our game [to] peak at the same time. Pitching, hitting, defense have to fire on all cylinders to win. We absolutely have what it takes, we have the experience, and we have the fire so I am excited to see what this team does with it.”

The softball season is without a doubt long and grueling and players need high amounts of mental toughness to face the same teams multiple times.

“I think we have worked very hard this season to work our way up,” said Jessica Im, freshman outfielder. “The conference tournament will be with the same teams we have already played, so it could be harder to play a team a fifth time after playing them four times. Focus is the main intent of the games we are going to play moving forward.”

This team has been dependent on success from top to bottom, and has thrived thanks to the skill of both the upperclassmen and younger players like Im, who currently has over 20 runs and 40 hits.

“My success here at Concordia has not been immediate. I had to work through a lot of barriers within my career so far that prompted my small amount of success. With a great coaching staff and my teammates to help me overcome challenges I have faced in the beginning of the year to now has significantly helped me,” said Im.

Im credits head coach Crystal Rosenthal who “believed in me when I felt like not many others would at the time I was significantly struggling.”

While Concordia has been elite in every aspect of the game, another key to their brilliant season for these ladies has been the excellence on the mound. Entrup and fellow senior pitcher Cortney Koelmans both had stellar seasons and are currently on the pitcher of the year watchlist.

“Although Katlin and I play the same position we are always rooting for one another,” said Koelmans. “Katlin is a super talented pitcher and we’re always pushing one another to be better.

Not even just Katlin and I, but the rest of the pitching staff is always pushing for one another to be better and if someone doesn’t have what’s working one day we know that someone else will be there to pick us up and get the job done.”

Koelmans and Entrup, along with the rest of the bullpen, have evolved into one of the best pitching groups in the nation.

“There’s nothing I can say about Cort to describe the amount of appreciation I have for her,”said Entrup. “She has been absolutely unstoppable and I am so proud of her ability to step up and be such a strong arm in the circle for our team. She makes me want to be better everyday we have practice and we both have pushed each other to be dominant for the team.”

The team has recently celebrated senior day, having honored ten graduating players in a nail biting 5-4 win over Azusa Pacific.

“I think this has given us some motivation going into playoffs as it reminds us of how far we have come, how quickly it is gone, and to just take advantage of every opportunity we are given,” said Koelmans.

Senior night was a huge occasion for the ladies who are wrapping up their careers with the Golden Eagles and will add fuel to the fire for their postseason run.“I just think all the seniors really enjoyed and celebrated all of what we have accomplished and our time here in the program,” said Entrup. “After that day, it sparked a little bit of reality that not much time is left, so winning the national championship became even more of a goal for us.” 

The seniors have been key in leading this team to where they’ve gotten so far, notably of which is outfielder Kaia Nisby.

“Kaia has stood out to me as a leader,” said Koelmans. “My senior class came in and none of us were very outspoken but I think Kaia did a great job stepping into a leadership role on our team. She is always giving 100 percent and genuinely cares about the people around her.”

We’re getting to the business end of the season, and it will take a whole lot of leadership, talent and teamwork for this team to go all the way. The Golden Eagles are currently already qualified for the national tournament and will look to take that on after the conference championships.

To stay up to date with the softball team, follow them on instagram @cuisoftball. Don’t forget to wish these Golden Eagles the best of luck as they head to the PacWest championships on Wed., May 1.

Tags: Softball, women's athletics

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