ESU softball heads to World Series

The records keep falling for the East Stroudsburg University softball team. Most wins in a season, 43, first trip to the NCAA championships after winning their first-ever regional title last weekend by winning back-to-back games.

Reilly Vicendese, ESU Softball Junior says, “I know going in that if we won the first game we were going to win the second game. Our vibe was on we were just all in it and came out on top. “

Paige Zigmund, ESU softball Junior added, “I am not surprised because I knew the talent that we had on our team but on the other hand it is kind of cool and shocking who would have thought you know what I mean? “

The Warriors' success starts on the mound with Paige Zigmund who in six postseason starts is 5 and 1 with a .85 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 33 innings. Add in Leigh Ann Jenkins who helped the starter in one game and the ESU pitchers are playing at the top of their game.

Zigmund says, “ I definitely like to have the ball in my hands because I don’t like not being in control sometimes. Also, we have great pitchers behind me like Leigh Ann and Maggie and we have a great staff. “

Jaime Wohlbach, ESU softball Manager says, “I think we need our whole pitching staff. Yes, Paige has had a good season but our other pitchers also push her. We have another that has contributed a lot of innings too and they are a little bit different. “

The offense came through with just enough runs in regionals to pull out 5 runs in the 2 wins. On the season the Warriors are averaging 5.4 runs per game hitting 314 as a team.

Vicendese says, “ When people get hits it is contagious and other people hit and our mind set going in. We need to do our best and it is alright to make mistakes because it is a game of mistakes. We just pick each other up as well as we do. “

East Stroudsburg will take on North Georgia in the opening round of the softball World Series Thursday in Chattanooga Tennessee. the double-elimination tournament ends May 31st.

Zigmund says, “ We want to take it one game at a time and not look into the future so just getting a few wins, staying confident and staying up when things don’t go our way.

Wohlbach added, “ In the beginning of the season we actually played a team that is also going to the World Series that was down in Florida and we also played Wilmington when we returned so the team knows that they can beat these teams and we played them really tough. We had four games between the two teams and we played them tough so I know they believe that they can win. “