By Tim Robertson
The Power of Teal
Pride pitching will have its hands full starting Saturday as it squares off against two of the best hitters in the CAA. Hofstra battles UNC-Wilmington in the regular season’s final three-game set.
Wilmington, which has lost its last seven out of eight contests, features catcher Carley Hughes, a sophomore, who leads the CAA in batting with a .472 average and has jacked a CAA-leading 18 homers with 62 RBIs. In addition, the Seahawks will show-off senior third baseman Krista Searle, who is batting .349, with six homers and 23 RBIs.
“They can flat-out hit,” coach Bill Edwards said.
Edwards warned that his pitchers can’t make mistakes against the Seahawk’s lineup.
“If we do make mistakes, we got to keep them in the park and play real good defense,” he added the series should be a good challenge for his Pride.
The Pride may capitalize at the plate this weekend, as Wilmington doesn’t have an overpowering or dominant pitcher.
“They are solid,” he said. “I think they rely on their pitchers hitting spots and keeping the ball in the park.”
Wilmington enters the final CAA weekend after losing three straight to James Madison, which set-up a first-place tie between the Dukes and the Pride.
The Seahawks enter with revenge on their minds, as they may seek retribution for the 19-0 onslaught the Pride handed them in last year’s first round of the CAA conference tournament.
Senior Gift
The games could be the last at home for lone senior Ashley Lane, if the Pride don’t fair the same or better as James Madison this weekend. A worse finish would put the Pride on the road for next weekend’s CAA conference tournament.
For the team, home or away, white or blue, it doesn’t make a difference. The Pride will still bunt, slap, hit and smash the ball, strikeout and throw out opponents, no matter the field.
“We don’t have to play at home to win,” coach Bill Edwards said. “We can win anywhere.”
Edwards admits it would be nice to have the tournament in Hempstead for the fans, the parents and the administration, but also for someone else.
“You want to have the conference championship, if for no other reason, for Ashley Lane. Give her three more days of playing on her field,” he said.