Blotner and Drake help avoid rebuilding year for softball

For most teams, losing four impact seniors would result in cries for a rebuilding year. However, the women's softball team would not have it that way, despite losing perhaps the best pitcher in Div. III and several key fielders to graduation last year. The team continued to play at a high level of competition, and once again won the NESCAC championships and made it all the way to the NCAA regional championship.

Leading the way for the team were the two lone seniors, co-captains Nikki Blotner and Lis Drake, two of the few who were confident the team had not lost its competitive edge.

"We weren't even ranked in the beginning of the season, we lost four major players, nobody had high expectations of us," Drake said. "I feel so proud to be on a team that has come together and made it so far."

While these two humble players will take little of the spotlight for themselves, the coach and their teammates alike credit both of these captains for helping lead the team both on and off the field to its successful endeavors.

"We'e just had good karma all season and it's a big tribute to them," coach Kris Herman said.

With only Drake and Blotner returning to their original positions, the losses of players from the previous season left many questions at the beginning of the team's 2003 campaign. Yet instead of allowing nerves to get to them as well, Blotner and Drake quickly helped the Jumbos form a cohesive unit and earn large successes.

"Together we saw that it was important from the beginning, that no matter where you were playing or what you were doing, there was a role for you on the team," Blotner said. "That was the way we wanted to help the team come together."

Creating team spirit and solidarity was an easy task for these captains, though. With their great love of the game clear for all their teammates to see, getting the rest of the squad into the game came effortlessly.

"Both of them always put 100 percent on the field and in practice," freshman Julia Brenta said. "That really set a standard for us and made us work much harder."

In her youth, Drake played in tournaments for various sports every weekend and summer. She started playing softball at age 11 and since then, Drake looked into her collegiate career with thoughts of playing Div. I or II. Settling on Tufts for its academics as well as its success as a program, the catcher was confident that her abilities would shine through in college.

Showing off her talent was no problem for Drake, who has amassed a sheet of honors and Tufts records, such as the home run record she set in 2001. Most notable for Drake, though, is the All-American status she earned last season, and is expected to earn again this season.

"She just has so many amazing physical tools," Herman said. "I think she's one of the best players in the country."

Leading by example on the field, Drake has also earned a spot in the hearts of her coaches and teammates with her attitude.

"She's just a great kid, she cares about her team and her teammates so much and she makes sure they know it. That makes her a great leader," Herman said.

For Blotner, softball began at an even younger age than Drake. Beginning play at age five, this right fielder was always aware of her love for softball above all other athletic activities.

"We all played soccer and basketball," Blotner said. "But there's just something different about this game. It's the best."

The game did not come as easily for Blotner as it did for Drake.

"For some people it comes really easy and really naturally," Blotner said. "I've had to work really hard."

Her hard work and constant positive attitude are what her teammates and coaches appreciate most.

"She's done her job and not worried about the fact that she's not an All-American player," Herman said. "She wants so badly for her team to win and just be the best player that she can be."

Together these seniors throw their caps at graduation with little knowledge of exact future plans, but aspirations to involve softball in their life somehow. Without knowing what the future holds, they can rest assured that they have left their mark on the Jumbos with their spirit and love of the game.

"The difference between us and the former teams is spirit," Blotner said. "Clearly everybody loves the game, but I think between the two of us there's something different."

"We were a lot closer this year as a team and I know a lot of that has to do with Lis and Nikki," junior Julie Fox said. "They definitely made more of an effort from them to keep us on the same page and to keep us positive. We couldn't have asked for any more from them as leaders."