At times, the Clan softball team has looked like last year’s version of the squad, when the bats dried up and the pitchers were off the mark. One thing they’re clearly not, however, is scared, and through 20 games, the Clan are putting up a statement season with 14 wins and counting. In fact, you could make the argument the Clan are doing the intimidating this season.
Cara Lukawesky has been nothing short of sensational for the Clan this season, and leads the conference in wins with 13, and saves with three. She’s been everything the Clan could want in a pitcher — and then some — and is no doubt one of the GNAC pitchers feared most by opposing hitters staring down at the plate. Even Kelsey Hawkins has been solid as the number-two pitcher, sitting third in wins herself.
As automatic as Lukawesky, and even Hawkins are on the mound, the same can be said for her teammates at the plate. When the Clan win games, they don’t just walk away with the victory — more often than not, they walk all over the opponent. They’ve outscored their opponents 164–104 this season, and a few big reasons why are Kelsey Haberl and Sammie Olexa. The two have been lights out for the Clan, and currently sit one-two in batting average and on-base percentage (with Haberl reaching base an almost unprecedented 62 per cent of the time, blowing away the comptetition). Haberl is third in slugging percentage, and Olexa is sixth in the GNAC in runs batted in. Just as projected at the start of the season, these players have taken control of the ship and are leading the Clan through their best season in the NCAA.
It’s not like they haven’t had help, however. Leah Riske is ahead of Olexa in RBIs, sitting in a tie for third with 27. Carly Lepoutre is right around the top of the conference in steals. The list goes on, but the stats only tell half the story, at best; so far we’ve completely ignored the Clan’s defensive game, save for the pitchers. The team has allowed the fewest runs in the league, and while that has a lot to do with their pitching prowess, the Can’s overall defensive game is vastly underrated. In all facets of their game, they’ve come a long way from their 12–19 season last year. For the first time in a quarter century, the Clan won’t be playing in post-season competition, but that doesn’t mean they have nothing to play for.
That they won’t be able to compete for a national championship is not indicative of the team’s play; they simply can’t play because of their current status as a new member of the NCAA. Still, the Clan are clearly playing to assert themselves in the GNAC, and are clearly doing so. They might not win a national championship, but they’re certainly gaining national attention. And they deserve it, because the Clan, from top to bottom, are playing excellent softball, and giving the rest of the GNAC something to worry about.
