After splitting this past weekend's series with Michigan State (7-1 Big Ten, 29-13 overall) the UW softball team (3-5, 17-16) feels that it is ready to take a step forward in the conference.
I don't think that Wisconsin's softball team is afraid of anybody,\ first-year head coach Chandelle Schulte said.
Along with handing the Spartans their first conference loss, the Badgers also played a very good Michigan team very tough, holding them scoreless through two innings before the game was cancelled due to rain, bolstering the team's confidence. ""Other than Northwestern, we've been in every single game, and that's really encouraging for our team and our staff,"" Schulte said.
Being a new head coach is not easy, especially when the new coach has a different way of approaching things and brings a new style to the plate.
""This is the third program I've taken over,"" Schulte said. ""Ironically it's all the same the first year. No matter where you are, you have the trials and tribulations.""
One new area Schulte has focused on is hitting against weaker ERA pitching units.
""I tried to teach them a new hitting technique and it's taking a while to catch on. But a truly good hitting team will adjust to whatever pitching,"" Schulte said. ""The pieces are at different points in the puzzle, but they're getting closer to coming together. I'm excited about that.""
As far as how Schulte has been able to sell her ideas to the team, therefore improving as a whole, she keeps it simple.
""I learned when I was a younger coach that you can't come in and you can't force them to embrace everything you have and change everything at once. It's a process, and you have to pick the things that they're good at and really encourage that and enhance that and over time gradually make it yours,"" she said.
After a difficult start to the season, UW has really hit its stride and is making some noise throughout the Big Ten.
""We played a very difficult schedule at the beginning of the year. I'm guessing here, but I think we've played six or seven Top 25 teams and we've only played 30 games,"" Schulte said. ""We got thrown into the fire rather quickly. And we learn from that."" The Badgers have gone 6-4 in their last 10 games including a sweep at Loyola and series splits against Illinois, North Dakota State, Minnesota and Michigan State. Nonetheless, they are headed in the right direction.
Although the Badgers sit in seventh place in the conference, they still come out to play every single day.
""In evaluating the Big Ten so far, we could compete. We have to play good softball, but we can compete,"" Schulte said. ""And the best thing about this team is they're not afraid to get out there and give them everything they have."" Although some may think of this as a transition year, having a new coach and losing team leaders and experience to graduation, Schulte focuses on getting better.
""We're trying to take steps forward instead of steps back and really embrace the new tradition that we're trying to create at Wisconsin, so that's where we are,"" she said.\
