Softball team makes major changes for 2016: New coach, former Foothill Owls, many freshmen added to roster

After a 2015 season that ended with a 4-13 record and a team batting average of .183, the De Anza softball team is looking for a bounce-back year.
This season’s team is full of incoming freshman and only two returning sophomores. Along with the team being made up of mostly freshman, they will have a fresh face behind the bench, new head coach Megan Finney Kravets.
Kravets said the transition has been good and the team has been very welcoming. She said she expects good things from her team this season.
“We look good,” Kravets said. “I think we will be a pretty strong team this year, especially with the girls getting along. I think that will help them.”
The team is made up of a lot of new players, but they have meshed well and look like a solid unit, Kravets said.
Freshman 1B Faithe Pearson, who recently transferred from Foothill College, said the team gets along great and have looked solid in practice.
“For only working with them for a week we really clicked,” Pearson said. “Everyone is pretty cool with each other.”
Foothill College cancelled its 2016 season. As a result, ex-Owl’s players transferred to De Anza and joined the Dons this season. Deja Nua, a freshman and utility player, said she looks at the merger as an advantage.
“The team is actually looking pretty good,” Nua said. “We’ve combined with Foothill which is even better because it’s good to experience talent with other girls from different colleges.”
A couple of Kravets’ focal points in practice are techniques in the infield and outfield as well as conditioning. Kravets said she wants the players to build their stamina, so her players can make it through all seven innings and the occasional double header.
As for last season, Kravets said they can take those experiences and learn from them this season, but ultimately  leave them in the past.
“Our main goal is to move forward from here and work on new goals and get things going,” Kravets said.
Sophomore Carmen Urtecho, shortstop, said that last season was a stepping stone and something to build off of.
“I think what happened last year was like a boost, at least to me and Emily because we were there last season,” she said. “So this season it’s just boosting us to be better.”
Urtecho said she feels confident going into the upcoming season and worked hard on improving her fielding.
Kravets said she hopes her players have fun, but still stay focused on the game.
“I expect girls to come out here with a positive attitude, work as hard as they can and enjoy the time that they are here,” Kravets said.
The Dons’ first home game is on Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 3 p.m. against the Modesto College Pirates.