Lauren Reilly looks to lead softball to success
Despite the struggles the women’s softball team has faced this season, there are plenty of silver linings to be found. Senior utility player Lauren Reilly happens to be one of them.
Reilly has played in 36 games this season, starting all of them. She has totaled 11 runs batted in, good for fourth most on the team. She has also had 24 hits this season, as well as one home run, tied for fourth best for the Hawks. Reilly has had three hits in a game twice this season.
The Southbury, Connecticut native comes with many years of experience under her belt.
“I was nine, started with baseball, ended up with softball,” Reilly said in regards to how her career began.
Reilly said she decided to come to Hawk Hill four years ago based on the location. She is also a humanities major.
This season has been a tough one for the Hawks; the team has an overall record of 14-22 and an Atlantic 10 record of 2-7.
“We’re playing, we’re here, we’re still fighting,” Reilly said. “I’m just trying to maintain hope that we’ll turn it around.”
In her fourth season as a Hawk, Reilly is familiar with fighting through rough patches. In the 2016-17 season, St. Joe’s ended with an overall record of 25-28, just shy of .500.
“I’ve been through hell and back with this program, so I know what it’s like to have my back against the wall,” Reilly said.
Reilly is looked at as a leader on and off the diamond. Assistant coach Sarah Yoos is impressed day in and day out with Reilly’s character, even in her first season coaching the squad.
“She’s [Reilly] the first one out to the field, she’s the first one to set things up,” Yoos said. “She really takes it seriously. She still does equipment like she’s a freshman.”
Reilly has always been in the mix, but this is her first season as a consistent starter. In her junior season, she started in 20 of 42 appearances, while her sophomore season saw just two starts out of 32 appearances. During her freshman year, she played in 12 games and started seven of them, getting time on the field early in her career. According to Yoos, her drive and work ethic helped her get her game to where it is now.
“She’s been through everything here, and she’s finally getting her chance to shine,” Yoos said. “She’s everything we could hope for in a senior.”
In the final stretch of her career, Reilly looks to leave a legacy and impact on the Hawks’ softball program. Reilly and the team look to turn their season around in their next games against Big 5 rival La Salle University at home on April 25.
“She’s definitely worked as hard as she can to make her legacy live here,” Yoos said.
