Photo by Josh McKee
The Hamilton College softball team had a historic season in 2019 as the Continentals set multiple program records and made their first appearance in the NESCAC Championship last weekend. The women headed into the weekend as the #2 seed in the Western Division but fell 6–3 to Trinity (#3 in the Eastern Division) in the quarterfinals. Regardless of the outcome last weekend, the Continentals have much to be proud of as they look back on the season.
The team was 28–10 overall and 7–5 in NESCAC play. They set a season records for wins, recording the most in Hamilton history for any team and setting additional program records for games played (38), strikeouts (169), at bats, (1,060), runs (255), hits (366), doubles (71), triples (17), and stolen bases (76).
What the team had to say about their season, however, spoke louder than these numbers. Morgan Hartranft ’22, two-time NESCAC Pitcher of the Week in 2019, said the team could feel their strength early on in the season. “We had an indoor scrimmage against a local college and I think that was when we all realized how strong our team was,” she said. “We had been scrimmaging during practice, but it gave us a lot of confidence to see us do well against an actual opponent.”
Emily Fraser ’20 set individual program records for runs (36) and runs batted in (35) but said the record-setting numbers weren’t the team’s focus this season. “We really try not to focus on stats and records but rather stress the importance of a team mentality and doing whatever needs to be done to put the team in the best position to win that particular game,” she said. “Looking back at our season, it is cool to see all our accomplishments, and I think it will give us confidence and motivation going into next season.”
The Continentals won three of their four weekend series against Wesleyan (2–1), Amherst (3–0) and Middlebury (2–1), which earned them the #2 seed in their division. Defeating Amherst proved to be a highlight of the season for many.
“Sweeping Amherst guaranteed us a spot in NESCAC [playoffs] and the whole team contributed to the wins,” Hartranft said. “It was really special to win all three games in a true team effort.”
Captain Liz Brautigam ’19 added, “We really shook up the NESCAC this year, and I think they just need to continue with the momentum. I think the confidence is there, and they will just need to capitalize on it.”
For a senior squad who did not have a winning season until this year, the 2019 season brought happiness and a sense of fulfillment.
“During my four years here we have had a lot of coaching turnover and a lot of ups and downs so as seniors,” said Caroline Chivily ’19. “We are really happy to be leaving the program on a positive note and in a really great spot.
“This season proved not only to us, but also to a lot of other people, that we are capable of playing really good softball. As long as the team takes that confidence and continues to grow with it, they should be in really great shape to do really amazing things in the future.”
