By Aaron Heller\u00a0\/\/<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A young women’s softball team posted a 6-15-1 record in the first half of the season, but still is hoping for a conference playoff spot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
About half of the Blazers’ roster are first-year students. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAlthough on paper we may be a young team, we as upperclassmen have instilled in our teammates that leadership and accountability needs to be practiced by everyone,\u201d junior outfielder and first basemen Kara Heidlauf said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Heidlauf, one of the team captains, said she pushes each of her teammates to be the best on and off the field to ensure the Blazers succeed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt starts with being a good teammate on and off the field, encouraging and supporting our teammates and continuing to push a champion mindset mentality,\u201d Heidlauf said. \u201cAt the end of the day, we win as a team and lose as a team, so continuously pushing each other to be better teammates and athletes will contribute to future team success.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Heidlauf believes in her team and is confident that the team can make it back to the MAC playoffs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTo be as successful in the MAC as we were last year we have to stay consistent and keep the game simple,\u201d Heidlauf said. \u201cBy consistent, we need to stay hot with our bats and play clean defense the entire game which will bring offensive success to push for those key conference wins and by keeping it simple we need to strive for quality at bats and defensively always know where you\u2019re going with the ball when it is hit to you.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
With four spots up for grabs for a MAC playoff appearance, the Blazers are ready for this uphill challenge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe four MAC playoff spots can go to anyone this year, so as long as we keep pressing on the gas and not let off and play competitive softball, I see us succeeding and going right back to where we were last year, the MAC playoffs,\u201d\u00a0Heidlauf\u00a0said.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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