On Sunday, Feb. 23 the team entered a doubleheader away at Charlotte.
Although the Eagles were unsuccessful in both games, losing 2-10 and 2-9, senior Ashley Westbrooks led the team with two RBIs. With this performance, Westbrooks hit her third multi-RBI game of the season, leading her to pass Mallory Hogan for eighth on Winthrop’s all-time RBI list with 107.
On Tuesday, Feb. 25, the Eagles took on another doubleheader against Western Carolina. The first game was a narrow loss ending in a final score of 3-4, but the Eagles redeemed themselves, claiming a 9-6 victory in the second game.
While preparing for these games with Starbucks, roommates and music, Westbrooks emphasizes that “communication is key” in order to accomplish goals and work well together as a team.
“When you know you can be open and honest with your players and coaches, it makes playing for them and coaching the players a lot easier,” Westbrooks said.
Westbrooks, 24 on the field, a catcher and utility, has been at bat 48 times this season, earning 14 runs and 13 RBIs for the team, with two home runs, leading the team with 4 doubles.
“I started playing softball when I was 4 and haven’t taken a year off since then. I’m not sure what started me playing, but I know my dad was the one who signed me up for our town’s rec team,” Westbrooks said.
Seventeen games into the season, Westbrooks currently has a batting average of 0.375 and has reached bases 28 times, the second highest amount on the team.
Enjoying her fourth year of athletics, Westbrooks reflects how she usually does not get nervous before a game, but sometimes doubt can take over.
“I always remind myself that I’ve worked hard to get here and if I doubt myself, everybody else is going to doubt me too. To play softball at the collegiate level, there has to be some sense of self-confidence within you and if there’s not any, it’s hard to perform the way you’re expected to,” Westbooks said.
Once Westbrooks finishes her student teaching internship, the Early Childhood Education major, will be graduating in December 2020.
“My favorite player is definitely Sis Bates. She’s such a baller on the field and seems like such a cool person off the field too,” Westbrooks said.
All the way across the states, Bates is a senior at the University of Washington who has won multiple All-American awards and NFCA honors for her achievements in softball.
Originally from Chesnee, SC, Westbrooks is thankful she made that one hour journey away from home to attend school where she has gained “forever friends.”
“I’ve always [been] grateful to have met the people that I have in my life now. It’s also really cool to travel across the country and see so many cool places/fields,” Westbrooks said.
After a fun and successful game, Westbooks makes time to celebrate by “going to grub on some good food,” but the preparations never stop.
“You can never get too comfortable when playing, because the game and teams are ALWAYS changing so you have to prepare yourself for what’s coming next,” Westbrooks said.
Last season, the Eagles softball team finished 30-25 overall and 14-10 in the Big South Conference.
Westbrooks set a career-high RBI of 7 during the team’s 11-5 win against Binghamton on March 23, 2019. For the second time in her career, Westbrooks also hit two homeruns in the same game. During her sophomore and junior years, Westbooks was named to the All-Big South Second Team.
“We have unfinished business after last year and still have a bitter taste in our mouths after not winning the championship last year. So any game that is going to get us to the championship game again is one I’m looking forward too,” Westbrooks said.
As of Feb. 25, the team is 9-8 this season. The Big South Conference will begin March 20. The Eagles will host Coastal Carolina on Mar. 4 at Terry Field.
“Having the opportunity to play and coach softball has taught me so many valuable lessons in life,” Westbrooks said. “I’ve learned to work hard for what you want in life (nothing will be handed to you), to persevere when things get hard because it’s not going to last forever, to be a leader and the type of person that people want to play and work with.”
Photo proved by Winthrop Athletics
