A Great Season
Hello Cedarville Softball fans! The end of the season has finally come and it’s time to say goodbye to softball until the fall. But, before we go, let’s take a look at the team’s amazing run in the G-MAC tournament.
The tournament festivities started last Wednesday night where the all the G-MAC teams were announced at the annual banquet. Our very own Morgan Arbogast was awarded first team All-G-MAC, as well as PITCHER OF THE YEAR. The team was so excited that Morgan was able to receive this amazing award during her final season of softball. Then, the games began the next day. We played a talented Kentucky Wesleyan team for our first game and lost in extra innings. This would be the loss that motivated the team to make it to the finals. That evening we played the number one seeded Ohio Dominican University, which ended in a victory for your Lady Jackets.
On Friday, all games were cancelled due to rain. Games were continued on Saturday, with only a little bit of rain. Your Lady Jackets would go on to beat three teams in one day! We defeated Findlay in the morning, Malone in the afternoon, and Tiffin in an extra-inning evening game. The team was so excited to play in the finals on Sunday and a lot of fans came to support us for our 11 a.m. game. Unfortunately, we didn’t win the game, but we did end the season fighting for every win we got.
For this last blog, I really want to thank the amazing fans that came to our games this season. It means so much to the team that you came and supported us every game. We wouldn’t be the team we are without the support that the fans, friends, and family members provide.
I also want to give a huge thank you to the seniors, Morgan Arbogast and Danae Fields. You were great leaders and friends who showed the team what it meant to be a great teammate. We will miss you so much!
Another big thank you goes to our coaches. You all put so much time and effort into making this team great and we would be no where without the guidance you provide us. Thank you for believing in this team! And the biggest thanks goes to the Lord, who gave us the talents to play the sport of softball. Without God in our lives we would be nothing, and it is Him who provides us with the strength to get through each day.
Thank you to everyone and have a blessed summer!
Until Next Season,
Keep “J” Chillin'
April 21, 2019
Rain, Rain Go Away!
Hello CU Jackets softball fans! It’s been a while since the last update, so there’s a lot to cover. What’s crazy is that we’ve only played six games in two weeks! The rain has really been coming down this spring. But, the weather hasn’t brought the Jackets down! The team is always ready to go out and play, not matter what the radar says! So, let’s look at the games the team has been able to get in these past couple of weeks.
We started out with a double header against Indianapolis on Wednesday, April 10th. Indianapolis is a very talented team who is ranked #16 in the nation. We knew the games were going to be tough, so the Lady Jackets brought their “A” game. Unfortunately, we lost both games, but the games were very close in score. Next, we took a trip up north to play Ursuline and Lake Erie. However, the rain came down hard and the Ursuline games were cancelled. We ended up staying overnight and playing Lake Erie the next day. It was Lake Erie’s senior day and it was so special to see their senior pitcher throw out the first pitch. The team played well and won two great games, the first score being 9-3 and the second 8-0. We then traveled back home to get ready for the re-scheduled games against Ursuline on Wednesday. Unfortunately, your resident blogger couldn’t travel with the team back to Ursuline, but I was able to follow the games online. The Lady Jackets won the first game 9-1 (5 innings) and the second game 3-0. All of these great wins went towards our G-MAC record for our placement in the league! The team then prepared to play Trevecca and Kentucky Wesleyan this past weekend, but the rain got the best of us and both were cancelled. Keep on the lookout for reschedules and for our upcoming games this week!
As much as we all love softball and enjoy playing the game, I think that it’s important to stop and remember who we play for. This weekend is Easter and there is nothing more important than celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I would first like to share Luke 23:44-47, which recounts the moment Jesus died on the cross. It reads, “It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” Jesus took on the full wrath of God and died for every single one of us, so that we might be saved. But that wasn’t the end of the story, for Jesus would rise again, victorious over the grave. As Mark 16:6 says, “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.” So, this Easter remember the great sacrifice that was made on our behalf. God loved us so much that he sent His only son to die, and there is no greater act of love than that. Have a blessed Easter CU Jackets fans!
Until Next Time,
Keep J’ Chillin
April 5, 2019
Coming In Clutch
Hello, again! Softball is in full swing and the team has been quite busy this week. After last week’s cancellations, the team was eager to get some games in. Some games went great and others were heartbreaking losses, but the team is always fighting to the end. Let’s jump right in and review everything that’s happened since last week!
We started off the week by playing Walsh on Tuesday. We drove a good way to get to the games and I have to say that most of the girls were excited to play in weather warmer than 20 degrees. Last year, we played Walsh in the snow and this year was a big improvement. The team won both games, the first being 9-5 and the second 3-1. Some highlights of those games include Morgan Arbogast posting 12 strikeouts and Gabby Stewart going 7-for-8 over the two games. Next, we headed to Malone for two more G-MAC games. The team fought hard, but we lost both games to a tough Malone team. After those two losses, the team really pulled together to figure out what our next plan of action was.
We then battled back to take two wins against Davis & Elkins. The first game wasn’t too close, with your Lady Jackets winning 6-0. The second game was a nail-biter. The team was trailing 3-0 until the 6th inning when we pulled together to score two runs. Morgan Arbogast shut down D&E in the top of the 7th, and it was time for our final at bat. Danae Fields and Heather Lord both got on base with two outs. Then, Kara Eiginger came up to the plate and hit a ball in the gap that scored our two runners. The game ended with a walk-off hit and Cedarville won 4-3. It was a great win and a great team effort.
The team still has two more games on Saturday against Alderson Broaddus at 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. We hope to see a great crowd of fans ready to cheer us on! As the season goes on, it’s really important to hear encouragement from both the fans and each other. We are really grateful for the support that we have been receiving from family and from the students on campus. It just reminds us of how we are all brothers and sisters in Christ and how we need to rally around each other when times get tough. Thank you again for taking the time to read the Lady Jackets softball blog this season. I ask that you continue to pray for the health and safety of the team for the rest of the season.
See you at the field!
Until Next Time,
Keep J’ Chillin
March 28, 2019
J’ Fighting
It’s time for another Lady Jackets blog! The team has been putting in a lot of work this past week and we’re excited to continue the season. Unfortunately, the season is on a bit of delay due to weather. Why can’t it just be sunny in Ohio? Our games at Malone and Walsh this coming weekend have been cancelled due to potential rain and thunderstorms. However, the games have been rescheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. Make sure to mark your calendars and prepare for a long trip up to the northern part of Ohio!
This past Saturday, your Lady Jackets played a double header against Findlay. Both games were hard fought and extremely close. The first game was a heartbreaker for the team. We lost 2-1, but we were determined to push back and win the second game. The team rallied and came back to beat the Oilers 3-2. Our next set of games took us to Urbana. The team wasn’t sure if we were going to play due to rain, but Urbana’s field was ready, and we were eager to play. During the first game, we started off strong. But, a few errors and some runs in Urbana’s favor led to a 6-3 loss. After the first game, the team came together to discuss who we are as a team. I really loved what Morgan, our senior pitcher, said to the team. She reminded us that we want to play to win, but we ultimately play for God’s glory. His opinion of us should matter most and that should drive us whenever we step on the field. It was time for us to step on the field knowing we were a great team that played the game of softball to honor the Lord. We let that fuel us to a 12-3 win. The team wants to continue playing like we know how for the rest of the season.
Our next games are extremely important because we’re getting into the heart of conference play. As I talked about above, we will be playing Malone and Walsh next week instead of this weekend. They’re both conference games, so the team needs to take a solid four wins. After that, we have another packed weekend versus Davis & Elkins on Friday and Alderson Broaddus on Saturday. Both of these games will be home, so make sure to come support us at the Lady Jacket softball field!
Looking back on the week and the struggles some of us have been experiencing, I was reminded of Colossians 3:1-3. It says, “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” It can be difficult playing sports and taking classes, so it’s extremely important that we remember to continually focus on Christ. Our lives should be centered around Him and our eyes should be fixed on things above, not the trivial things of earth. Our identity is in Christ, and we should remind ourselves of that daily. Thanks for giving this blog a read and we hope to see you at our next game!
Until Next Time,
Keep “J’ Chillin”
March 22, 2019
Getting Back Up
Hello! It’s me again, updating you on all things Cedarville softball! We’ve played quite a few games since the last post, so I’ll do my best to update you on everything that has happened. But before we do that, I would like to recognize our junior catcher, Kara Eiginger, for winning NCCAA Softball and Courtyard Marriott Springfield "Athlete of the Week". We love to see our teammates succeed and get recognized for all of their hard work. Now, let’s jump into it!
Your Lady Jackets have fallen into a bit of a slump lately. We have lost our last four games against some pretty tough opponents. But, we did start off G-MAC play by beating Ohio Valley University in our first conference games. The team then came back to play on Saturday against the #10 team in Division II. The first game we played against Grand Valley State was a close one. The score ended at 1-0. The second game was not quite as close as the first. We then traveled to Ohio Dominican University for the second round of conference play. The team fought hard, but we ended up losing both games. Our record in the G-MAC now stands at 2-2. The team is working hard and fighting to make sure that we keep our record up for the tournament. The Lady Jackets are putting these losses behind them and gearing up to “J’ win” some games.
The coming week is looking exciting, with a double header against Findlay on Saturday, followed by two games against Urbana on Tuesday. Then, on Friday, the team will face Malone in more conference games. We have so many chances to get some great wins and the team is ready to prove that we earned our selection for #1 in the G-MAC!
Thanks for sticking with the blog and reading all about our Cedarville softball adventures! I hope that everyone got a chance to watch the hype video I mentioned last week. If you haven’t watched it yet, now’s your chance!
CU SB "Hype Video"
Again, thank you to the parents and friends who come out to watch the games. It’s especially nice when former players show up to the games to support the team. (Thanks, Avary, Kelsey, Danielle, and Kwo!) Please continue to pray for the team as the season starts hitting hard and life gets a little hectic. I hope to see you at a game soon!
Until Next Time,
Keep “J’ Chillin”
March 14, 2019
Back In (Ohio) Action
Hello from Ohio! Your Cedarville Lady Jacket softball team has finally arrived back home! So much has happened since my last post, so I’ll do my best to get through everything! Before I begin, I’d like to say thank you to all of the fans that have been supporting us this season. Your support is something that the whole team greatly appreciates. Alright, let’s get started!
This year, the team came back from Florida with one of the best records ever! We went 10-2 and stood at a 12-2 record overall. I’d say that’s pretty good! Our last day of games was pretty tough. We played the very talented Truman State and Rockhurst teams. Some might say that we were a little crazy for playing such a difficult schedule, but it payed off in the end! Because of how well we did, and because of our wins against good teams, THE LADY JACKETS ARE NATIONALLY RANKED! We are currently ranked 19th in all of NCAA Division II softball! This was a goal that the team had been striving for and it was so exciting to see our name among other great talent.
This week we have more games, but I’d say that it might not be as warm as Florida. On Wednesday night, we played Saginaw Valley State for a double header. The first game was a bit of a roller coaster ride, but we ended up losing 10-9 in eight innings. However, the team bounced back and worked hard to win the second game, 3-2. On Friday, we have our first G-MAC games at Ohio Valley. We’ll then travel back to face #10 ranked Grand Valley State at Wright State’s softball field. All of these games are important both for our ranking and for G-MAC. The team is excited to really get into the heart of the season and make our Cedarville fans proud!
I hope that you feel all caught up on everything Cedarville softball. We continue to ask for prayers and support during the season as many of us are feeling a little "J’ tired" from all the games. I’d also like to mention that many of the softball members are going on a mission trip this coming May into June. This is an amazing opportunity to minister and share the gospel to people in a different country. We would ask that you pray for the team as we prepare for this trip. The team also recently released a hype video that showcases all of the players for this year. If you have a few minutes, go check it out! You won’t regret it!
Until Next Time,
Keep "J’ Chillin"
March 5, 2019
Finally, Florida!
Hello from sunny Florida! The team has been anticipating this trip for months, and it’s finally here.
We are so blessed to be able to travel to Florida every year and play some great softball. Our flight went smoothly, besides the occasional turbulence. Once we landed, we kept to tradition and went to Bob Evans for team dinner. Then, it was off to the hotel for our first night of sleep. We were all pretty excited to play the next day and finally kick off our Spring Break full of softball.
The team started off our first of twelve games with a loss to Davenport. We played well against a team who had just beaten top-ranked Saint Anselm. The team managed to make a comeback and bring the score within one run, but it just didn’t happen for our Lady Jackets team. The next game, we came back stronger and won against Wheeling Jesuit. The team had a big win against the reigning Division II national champions, Southern Indiana. We went on to win two more games against Georgian Court and Clarion. Throughout those five games, we had home runs hit by Gabby Stewart, Morgan Arbogast, and Sarah Parsons. Our last game on Monday was “J’ tough.” We played Concordia-St. Paul, who we lost to last year. The team really pulled it together and got a solid win against a great team. We have quite a few more games to go, and we’re looking forward to completing our Florida schedule!
Though we are down here for softball, the team has had time to enjoy some of the attractions in the Sunshine State. I’ll give you a list of some of the spots the team visited: Disney Springs, SeaWorld, Clearwater Beach, Disney World, back to the ball fields, the Cedarville baseball game, the strawberry festival, and many more! On Sunday, the team had the opportunity to worship at Celebration Community Church and hear a great message. The pastor reminded us that our pursuit should always be to please God. Everything that we do should be glorifying to Him. This is something that we always think about, even when we’re on the field.
As our time in Florida continues, I’ll keep everyone updated on how the team is doing. Hopefully, I’ll have more home runs and wins to report to all of you. Thanks for all the support that has been shown to the team so far. A huge thank you should be given to all of the parents who came all the way down here to watch us play softball in the heat. But, the biggest thanks should go to Coach Kelsey who somehow managed to do all of our laundry and get our white jerseys clean. We’d be nothing without a clean uniform!
Until Next Time,
Keep “J’ Chillin”
February 27, 2019
Starting Strong
Hello, everyone! Thanks for coming back this week to read about our Lady Jacket softball team! There is so much to talk about, so I’ll try to get through all of it. First, the team got their first wins this past Friday! How exciting is that? We were up against a solid Quincy softball team, but we rose to the challenge and took both games. Our solid pitching, great defense, and speed on the bases all contributed to our success. Speaking of speed, the team stole a total of 11 bases over the two games! I’d say that’s pretty amazing. We’re all pushing to reach our goal of stealing 150 bases on the year. It’ll be tough, but with our runners it’s definitely possible. The team is super excited with how the season started, and we can’t wait for the next time we get to step on a dirt field. (Note: we haven’t actually played on dirt yet. The field this weekend was turf!)
If you’ve been keeping up with the schedule, you’ll notice that we are headed to Florida this week! It’s goodbye windy Cedarville and hello sunny Florida! To say that we are excited is an understatement. Playing in Florida is always a blast, even if we all feel like we’re falling apart by the end. (It’s totally worth it!) For this year’s trip, we obviously want to win, but also stay healthy. The team had a bit of an illness outbreak last year. And as you know, when everyone is tossing the same ball and sharing rooms, sickness spreads quickly. Fun Fact: last year both of my roommates got sick, but I managed to avoid it! We’re praying that sickness stays away and all our games go well. If any of you blog readers are traveling to Florida to watch us, we can’t wait to see you there!
As always, we are leaning on the Lord through everything. The time before Spring Break can be stressful and a lot needs to get done before we leave. But, we know that the Lord is on our side and is our rock throughout these difficult times. As Matthew 11:28 says, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Our prayer is that we, as a team, lean on and trust God throughout the entirety of the season and our lives.
Thank you all for coming to the blog to read about our team this week! I hope you are excited as we are for the rest of the season! I ask that you would continue to pray for the team and our travels on Thursday. See you again next week!
Until Next Time,
Keep "J’ Chillin"
P.S. You thought I wouldn’t mention that our very own Morgan Arbogast received G-MAC Pitcher of the Week? I would never forget! Congratulations, Morgan! Keep "J’ Pitching!"
February 20, 2019
It’s softball time again! The sun is shining (sometimes), students are getting restless, and spring is just around the corner! Our team of 16 players is geared up and ready to play! We’re all eager to get on the field and show what we’ve been working on. Practices during the winter have taught all of us a lot. We have been hitting, fielding, pitching, and lifting at 110% every week. Hopefully, our hard work will pay off and we’ll be able to clinch another G-MAC regular season title! But before we start those league games, we will be traveling down to Florida to play in the warmer weather. Our schedule in Florida is looking pretty tough. Many of the teams on our schedule are ranked or have very successful programs. Both Coach Rowe and the team are excited to test our abilities against some of the best softball teams in NCAA Division II.
The team is wishing to get to Florida as soon as possible, but we have our first games of the season this coming weekend to get through. We’ll be playing in Jacksonville, Illinois against Quincy University. This will be the first time the team will be on dirt since the fall! It does look like there might be rain in the forecast, but nothing is going to stop this team from playing!
I’d also like to take the time to talk about how our team is growing spiritually. We have such a great group of girls this year who love God and show that by playing for Him. That is always our goal. You might even notice that some of us write little phrases on our hands or wrists to remind us that God is the center of everything that we do. We play to glorify Him, and we can’t wait to see what God has planned for this season!
I hope that you’ve learned a little about our team and what we’re all about! Over the course of the season new blog posts will be coming and you’ll get to keep up with all the amazing things happening in our lives. I also want to give a huge thank you to our coaches this season. Coach Rowe and Coach Kelsey give their all to this team and have invested so much time into our success. We wouldn’t be the team we are without them! I hope you continue to support us this season!
