The softball team will graduate four seniors at the close of its season - four players who have been instrumental to the success of the Jumbo program during their careers. While each of these athletes is accomplished in her own right statistically, even the casual observer of a game can see that it is the chemistry of a team that wins championships. It is this finesse that seniors Jodie Moreau (P), Emily Ferrazza (2B), Jen Mackey (SS), and Tiffany Trahan (1B) have brought to the diamond, and their leadership played a pivotal role in guiding Tufts to the NESCAC championships this year.
Take a look at the conference semi-finals game played against Williams on May 4. The game was scoreless until the bottom of the fourth inning, when Ferrazza lead off with single and then proceeded to steal second.
Mackey then reached on catcher's interference, and Trahan laid down a sacrifice bunt to put runners at second and third. Sophomore Julie Fox then hit a single to score Ferrazza. Tufts won the game 1-0 on a shutout pitched by Moreau, and was able to advance and eventually win its second straight NESCAC championship.
This game offered a perfect example of the leadership these athletes demonstrate in coming up big when the team needs them needs them the most.
"These players have played pretty much full time for all four years and have consistently given a huge boost to the team," coach Kris Talon said. "They are a talented group and have made many contributions, but the biggest has been just winning ballgames."
Of course, accomplishments on paper certainly can't hurt, and between these four players, the list is a mile long. Starting pitcher and co-captain Jodie Moreau serves as the prime example. This year while racking up a 19-1 mark with an ERA of 0.52, she broke the record for the most career strikeouts when she struck out the 335th batter of her career. She also holds the record for the most strikeouts in a single season, 129, which she earned her junior year.
Or how about Trahan and Mackey? Trahan broke the record for career RBI's with 125, smashing former teammate Randee McArdle's total of 103 set just one year ago. Mackey, the shortstop, whose season batting average of .471 this year breaks the record for the highest season batting average, set seventeen years ago by Kelly Burke (.462). Both Mackey and Moreau are up for All-American consideration.
While these numbers are certainly impressive, they take a back seat in the minds of these players when they look back on the proudest moments of their careers.
"These records are nice to have as small goals," Moreau said. "But it's hard to look at records until the season is over as their meaning hasn't sunk in yet."
For Mackey, she remembers fondly sophomore year when all four of the current seniors were named to the all-tournament teams.
"It really made sophomore year special to have all four of us named to the all-tournament teams," Mackey said.
And of course fresh in everyone's memory was competing in the 2000 College World Series, a feat which they had hoped to duplicate this year before they were eliminated in game six of the NCAA Division III New England Regional Tournament last Saturday. Although the team will certainly miss their statistical performances, the day to day example that these four set will be most missed by their coach and teammates.
"They led the best by their own individual preparation.," Talon said. "They worked hard to do their best and in turn inspired everyone else to do their best. At practice, when players would look around, they always saw the seniors working."
Aside from offensive production, the team will also lose a large part of it's infield defense, as all four seniors have played there together throughout their entire college career; experience that has led to a strong defensive season for the Jumbos, which included 15 shutouts.
"We've played together for four years, and we have gelled as an infield," Mackey said. "We know each others skills and what the other one is going to do in a game situation."
It is this chemistry that Trahan will miss the most looking back on her career.
"I will miss the team camaraderie," Trahan said. "We have all been solid parts of the team and the infield for four years. We are friends on and off the field."
"I am going to miss the people," Moreau agreed. "Competition is the same wherever you go but it is the people that make it special."
