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BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – The Western Washington University softball team didn’t start the season like most of their competitors in the national rankings.
The Vikings opened their schedule in California with a tournament that featured some of the best teams in the country.
What sets them apart, though, is that the Vikings had not played outside in two months. The brutal wind, rain and snow of the Pacific Northwest had ravaged their playing fields, leaving them to practice in Carver Gym and at a local hitting facility.
“We typically don’t get on our field until our first series,” said Sheryl Gilmore, the team’s head coach. “But we get creative with it and try not to let it be an excuse.”
No excuses were needed, as the Vikings went 4-0 in California and beat 14th nationally ranked Concordia University Irvine to win the tournament title. Playing a group of schools that were used to practicing in more favorable conditions is something Gilmore says added an edge to the team.
“We try to use it to our advantage, kind of a chip on our shoulder,” Gilmore said.
The Vikings did not let up from there. The team went on to open the year by reeling off 13 straight wins to set a new program and conference record for best undefeated start to a season. Along the way, they entered the national rankings for the first time since 2011.
But the historical start and the national recognition don’t tell the whole story with this team. Ask anyone on the coaching staff how they would describe the demeanor of their players and they all respond with the same word: grit.
“They want to compete, they want to get better, there’s a lot of people here before practice getting extra cuts in,” said Shearyna Labasan, an assistant coach with the team. “Nothing seems to faze them or throw them off their tracks.”
That attitude was only enhanced by the teams’ record-breaking start to the season.
“I definitely feel like it built confidence and I think these guys know they can compete with anybody,” Gilmore said. “They don’t play scared, they’re not afraid to lose.”
Their most recent test took place again in California for the Tournament of Champions. The Vikings were faced with rain delays throughout the weekend, including three lightning delays within a single game. Another game was pushed back until 10 p.m. and didn’t finish until nearly 1:00 a.m., when Western edged out a nationally ranked opponent in San Marcos 1-0. Junior pitcher Joie Baker lent a superhuman effort to the team, tossing a complete-game shutout and driving in the lone run of the game.
“It was crazy, I think that was the latest game I’ve ever played,” said Baker. “At the end of the day, we were all like ‘We’re not staying here just to lose, we’re definitely going to win that game no matter what.’”
The tournament was highlighted by a lights-out performance by the team’s pitching staff, where their “three-headed monster” of Baker and freshmen Alli Kimball and Kaiana Kong gave up just two earned runs through 35 innings. The Vikings went perfect again in California, going 5-0.
Aside from their dominant performance on the diamond, the team has a tight-knit bond that keeps the atmosphere light. Stop by one of their practices and you’ll hear friendly banter and jokes while they take batting practice or catch fly balls. The coaches have a real admiration for their players’ ability to have a good time while taking pride in their preparation for the next game.
“Off the field, they’re fun, bubbly and goofy. But on the field, they know how to get stuff done, they’re very focused,” said Labasan.
Baker sees the chemistry the team has built as one of their strongest weapons.
“I feel like every championship team has good chemistry,” Baker said. “I think something about our team is like I can go up to anyone on this team and hang out with them. I feel really close, and I can trust anyone on this team.”
The Vikings own a 22-4 record as of Thursday, March 28. That’s good for the best overall record in their conference, but their 2-2 record in Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) play slots them at fifth out of seven teams in the standings.
The GNAC Championships take place during the first week of May ahead of the national tournament.
Win or lose, it has been made abundantly clear that this team is having a good time playing the sport that they love. Practice after practice, game after game.