Hope for season as new coach takes over

Feb. 24, 2005
By Lisa M. Larranaga
Staff Writer

The Queen Bees softball team has been on a slide in recent years, and the breath of fresh air that may revive the program starts at the top, and has started to trickle down.

This season, with nine new players and a new head coach added to the roster, St. Ambrose University’s softball team is looking to improve last year’s record of 13-39. The Queen Bees finished in last place in conference.

Seven freshmen and two transfer students joined the already young team with only three upper-classmen.

"They had a tough record and it’s hard to get that confidence back,” head coach Bridget Murphy said. “Hopefully we can build that back up this year.”

Murphy is a new asset to the team. A 2000 alumni of SAU, she was recognized as a two-time First Team Midwest Classic All-Conference pitcher/first baseman, a two-time NAIA All-America Scholar Athlete, top senior female athlete in 2000 and team captain.

“She’s a saving grace,” team captain Mae Freyermuth said. “We’ve been unstable the past three years and I think she can get our program on the right track.”

In the recent fall ball games the team went three and three, proving they’re on the right track to improve despite last year’s record.

“Fall ball went well,” Murphy said, “but the main objective was for the girls to get to know each other before the first practice.”

Maintaining team chemistry is a major part of the game, Murphy said, and something she thinks seniors Freyermuth and Kathleen Griffin will uphold.

“They know what it takes to win,” Murphy said, “both athletically and mentally. They lead by example in their work ethic and ability.”

The team will start their season in Florida March 5, and predict their record this season will be over .500.

In 2000 as well as 2001 the Queen Bees won the conference title. Before that it had been five years between conference titles. In 2001 they won both the regular season championship as well as the conference tournament title.

“As long as we keep focused on what we can do as a team, and not as individuals, we’ll be okay,” Murphy said.

With a coach who has been on winning Ambrose teams before, the success she brings to the table will hopefully put SAU over the top.

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