After months of preparation, the Rams will return to the field this weekend to start the 2022 softball season. PHOTO CREDIT: gorhody.com
A changing of the guard for the University of Rhode Island Softball program will officially commence Friday morning.
Softball coach Whitney Goldstein will take the field for the first time as the leader of the Rams softball team when they begin a five-game slate on Feb. 11 at the Runnin’ Bulldogs Classic tournament in North Carolina against Colgate University.
After a disappointing 2021 campaign where the team finished 5-22 and was forced to go on two COVID-19 pauses in a three-week span, Goldstein is focused on establishing a new culture in her first season, and the team is ready to embrace it.
“We did need a culture change in general, not only within athletics, but within our team and Coach Whitney has offered that,” senior infielder Ari Castillo said. “We told her what we wanted and she’s stuck to that since Day 1.”
Prior to taking the job last June, Goldstein had a successful eight-year run at Division III Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) where she won 73 percent of her games, four regular season titles and made three NCAA regional appearances. She hopes to replicate this success here in Rhode Island, but is more focused on the process of getting there.
“We want a brand that works hard,” Goldstein said. “We want a brand that’s gritty, that has high game IQ, that knows how to play the game the right way. [A brand that’s] having fun and hopefully winning games while improving and creating an environment that people love to be around and engage in.”
The team has embraced this identity through the slogan #FortheBrand. Whether it is through attending athletic events together, doing team bonding exercises together after practice or keeping each other accountable on the field, Goldstein says that she wants to establish the mindset that everything the team does is “for their brand.”
With the exception of the six seniors that graduated/exhausted their eligibility, most of the 2021 roster return for the upcoming season.
Junior lefty Liz Lynchard leads this year’s pitching staff. The Villa Ridge, Mo. native led the team last season in appearances (17), innings pitched (43.2) and strikeouts (3). Lynchard has also increased her speed “by 3-4 miles per hour hour” working with pitching coach Christine Akcer, according to Goldstein.
Goldstein also expects veterans Taryn Collins, Piper Maguire and CeCe Sidley and freshmen Cameron Whiteford, Noelle Sterner, Scarlet Anderson to add valuable contributions both in the starting rotation and coming out of the bullpen.
Senior Susan Harrison leads the catcher group along with Gabi Lopez, Genevieve Bower, Vicki Viaclovsky and Katie Heenan.
Castillo heads the infielders along with junior Cassie Swenson and sophomore Margaux Lesser. Rachel Zingerman, Maddie Melice and Emily Power will also be in the fold.
On-base machine Sami Villarreal rounds out the outfielders along with Skyler Rapuano, Ainsley Yoshizumi, Leilyn Alvarez, Jessica Hennelly and Caitlin O’Leary.
“They’ve improved so so much––they definitely look a lot different than they did in the fall––so I’m interested to see how we are against competitors, how we handle tough situations, how we handle close games, how we learn how to win and celebrate wins as a group and drive the program forward,” Goldstein said.
Last week, Castillo, Harrison, Villarreal and Lynchard were all named team captains for the season.
“Those four exemplify what I believe to be our mission, our values, our vision,” Goldstein said. “They exemplify those traits and set those examples every single day and it’s nice that their teammates also recognize those things. They are great and have done a superb job of being their best selves and inspiring their teammates.”
Castillo was honored that her teammates selected her.
“I’m thankful that my teammates look up to me––that’s a big thing,” she said. “I want to leave a presence. I always try to be a good person not only on the field but outside.”
The Rams are picked to finish eighth in the Atlantic 10 this season, but their hope is to surpass expectations and make a return to the conference tournament for the first time since 2011.
“I want to be known within the A-10 again,” Castillo said. “We haven’t had a very good past so I want to create an impact with my team.”