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By Benjamin Wideman / SLC Sports Information Director
MANITOWOC, Wis. — As the No. 1 pitcher on a new college softball team, Tori Jonet acknowledges there's pressure.
And that's just the way she likes it.
"I love pitching and having that pressure," the Silver Lake College sophomore said. "I like it a lot actually. I feel like I can handle the pressure."
Tori is excited to get back on the mound after having not pitched in a game since the summer after her junior year at Luxemburg-Casco High School. And the rest of the team is equally eager to get on the field.
Silver Lake College is fielding a softball team this season for the first time in many years. The Lakers start their season March 12 with a week's worth of contests at the PFX Spring Games event in Clermont, Florida, site of the National Training Center complex. They'll be facing teams from Iowa, Indiana, New York, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Missouri and Ohio.
For several of the Lakers, those 10 games over the span of five days will be their first time stepping foot onto a softball field.
For Tori, those games will be a much-awaited return to competitive softball, a sport she has loved ever since first picking up a softball at the age of 4.
The last time Tori threw a pitch to an opposing batter was the summer of 2015 after her junior year of high school. During fall of her senior year Tori underwent the first of two surgeries on her feet, causing her to miss her final year at Luxemburg-Casco.
Tori figured her softball playing days were over — until she attended a scholarship event at Silver Lake College. That's when she heard the Lakers would be reviving their softball program.
"I've been working hard the past few months to get back out there, and I'm excited to be on the mound again," she said.
Silver Lake College head coach Kirk Shillcox also is excited to see her pitching.
"She locates her pitches well, and she's going to keep us in games hopefully with her control," he said. "I think her experience is going to give her a competitive edge."
Tori's repertoire includes her favorite pitch, a drop ball, as well as a change-up, rise ball, screwball and fastball, which can reach speeds approaching 55 miles per hour.
Having a commanding presence on the mound is important, Tori said.
"How you present yourself is important," she said. "If you're confident, like I am, batters will be more nervous or intimidated. That reflects on the team too. If you're a confident pitcher, the team is going to be able to rely on you."
Tori will be pitching to catcher Brooklynn Jarrell, who, despite being a freshman, developed invaluable experience on high school and summer travel teams. As a high school freshman, Brooklynn earned first-team all-conference honors; she went on to hone those already solid skills throughout the following seasons.
"We have really good chemistry," said Tori, noting they're friends both on and off the field. "I'm really confident in (Brooklynn). She takes charge behind the plate, and I like that."
Added Coach Shillcox: "Those two have been working well together."
Overall, the Lakers' roster includes a range of experience levels. The team also includes junior Hannah Severin; sophomores Jannin Pineda Funes, Elizabeth Turner and Daysi Perez-Ramirez; and freshmen Alexa Mohr, Angie Kudick, Carmen Medina-Santa Anna, Julia Naze, Mya Eh Paw, Paige Boden and Naw Da Say.
Louis Vigue is the assistant coach, and sophomore Meghan Walsh is the manager.
"I think we have a lot of opportunity this season," Tori said. "I see a lot of potential. I think all the girls can see that too. From the first practice, where some of the players hadn't touched a softball before, to where we are now, I can see us coming together as a team. So I think it'll be a fun season."
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MANITOWOC, Wis. — As the No. 1 pitcher on a new college softball team, Tori Jonet acknowledges there's pressure.
And that's just the way she likes it.
"I love pitching and having that pressure," the Silver Lake College sophomore said. "I like it a lot actually. I feel like I can handle the pressure."
Tori is excited to get back on the mound after having not pitched in a game since the summer after her junior year at Luxemburg-Casco High School. And the rest of the team is equally eager to get on the field.
Silver Lake College is fielding a softball team this season for the first time in many years. The Lakers start their season March 12 with a week's worth of contests at the PFX Spring Games event in Clermont, Florida, site of the National Training Center complex. They'll be facing teams from Iowa, Indiana, New York, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Missouri and Ohio.
For Tori, those games will be a much-awaited return to competitive softball, a sport she has loved ever since first picking up a softball at the age of 4.
The last time Tori threw a pitch to an opposing batter was the summer of 2015 after her junior year of high school. During fall of her senior year Tori underwent the first of two surgeries on her feet, causing her to miss her final year at Luxemburg-Casco.
Tori figured her softball playing days were over — until she attended a scholarship event at Silver Lake College. That's when she heard the Lakers would be reviving their softball program.
"I've been working hard the past few months to get back out there, and I'm excited to be on the mound again," she said.
Silver Lake College head coach Kirk Shillcox also is excited to see her pitching.
"She locates her pitches well, and she's going to keep us in games hopefully with her control," he said. "I think her experience is going to give her a competitive edge."
Tori's repertoire includes her favorite pitch, a drop ball, as well as a change-up, rise ball, screwball and fastball, which can reach speeds approaching 55 miles per hour.
Having a commanding presence on the mound is important, Tori said.
"How you present yourself is important," she said. "If you're confident, like I am, batters will be more nervous or intimidated. That reflects on the team too. If you're a confident pitcher, the team is going to be able to rely on you."
Tori will be pitching to catcher Brooklynn Jarrell, who, despite being a freshman, developed invaluable experience on high school and summer travel teams. As a high school freshman, Brooklynn earned first-team all-conference honors; she went on to hone those already solid skills throughout the following seasons.
"We have really good chemistry," said Tori, noting they're friends both on and off the field. "I'm really confident in (Brooklynn). She takes charge behind the plate, and I like that."
Added Coach Shillcox: "Those two have been working well together."
Overall, the Lakers' roster includes a range of experience levels. The team also includes junior Hannah Severin; sophomores Jannin Pineda Funes, Elizabeth Turner and Daysi Perez-Ramirez; and freshmen Alexa Mohr, Angie Kudick, Carmen Medina-Santa Anna, Julia Naze, Mya Eh Paw, Paige Boden and Naw Da Say.
Louis Vigue is the assistant coach, and sophomore Meghan Walsh is the manager.
"I think we have a lot of opportunity this season," Tori said. "I see a lot of potential. I think all the girls can see that too. From the first practice, where some of the players hadn't touched a softball before, to where we are now, I can see us coming together as a team. So I think it'll be a fun season."
Continue reading...