Valparaiso varsity softball coach Tracy Corneil sees positives in the way that her team has been playing as of late, despite the fact that the Vikings have not yet achieved desired results. Valpo stands at 5-13 on the season, but the subpar mark can be attributed partially to the fact that the team plays in one of the toughest conferences in the state. The Vikings are 2-8 in Duneland Athletic Conference play including Tuesday’s 12-2 home loss to Portage.
“The DAC is extremely competitive,” Corneil said. “There are teams that play very well every night. We can compete with them, but we have to have the mindset that we can do it.”
The DAC is known as one of the most competitive conferences in the state in many sports, including gymnastics, wrestling, soccer, baseball and softball.
“For a team that’s rebuilding, the DAC is a tough draw,” Corneil said. “It’s 14 games of hard-nosed softball all the time and a lot of those teams can play. We just have to keep working on it, that’s all we can do and every day walk away with something positive to build on.”
The VHS softball squad recorded conference victories on April 10 with an 11-1 rout of Merrillville and April 16 with a 4-3 edging of Michigan City. The other three wins came against New Prairie, Boone Grove and Highland.
The Vikings have had several players contribute consistently throughout the season. Evann Grabow, who worked a complete game and struck out three in Tuesday’s loss, has done a solid job learning on the fly this season, as has fellow pitcher Ashley Price.
“They’ve come into a tough spot and they’re learning, so I have to commend them,” Corneil said.
Offensively, Clarisse Fletcher has been a Viking standout this season. Fletcher plays shortstop and third base and has helped keep the team on the same page throughout the season.
“I would definitely say a key would be Clarisse Fletcher, who has done a real good job and I think she’s definitely a lot of the glue that helps us stay together,” Corneil said.
In Tuesday’s game against rival Portage, Molly Grant doubled for the team’s only extra base knock, while Maddie Shuta and Laura Gruszka each singled. Gruszka was the only Viking with a run batted in to her credit.
“I think that each night we come out there’s something that is noteworthy or positive that we’ve achieved that particular night,” Corneil said. “The thing we are struggling with is putting it all together on the same night. I’ve seen improvement; that effort is there.”
The Vikings travel to Crown Point on Thursday night (April 26) to continue their second round of conference play. The regular season concludes with a home date with Hobart on May 17 before sectional play gets underway on May 21. First round matchups will be announced on May 10.
According to Corneil, the team needs to get better every day and play an intense and competitive style of ball from the time the first pitch is delivered to when the final out is recorded.
“We need to come out every night and approach the game exactly in that fashion,” she said. “If we can do that, then I think we’ll be competitive at the tournament. I want the kids to be competitive and fighting every day.”
Click here for a complete photo gallery from Tuesday's showdown with Portage!!!