Take a visit into the Manuel Rivero Hall gymnasium press box and you can witness first hand the type of program that first year head Lincoln University softball coach Lynsey Grace is running.
During the recent basketball season (in between announcing duties) Grace still managed to patrol her players, making sure they displayed the program in a positive light. Any transgression and she would surely correct it before the night was over. It is this stern discipline in which Grace feels is critical to improving in 2010 and building a program, after posting five wins last season.
“My main goal is to instill great qualities into these young women,” Grace said. “Every person craves consistency and loyalty. I don't treat one athlete different than the other. When you show inconsistency, that's when you lose your program. If you are on board, you are on board. With my program, I expect the best.”
Expecting the best is familiar territory for Grace, who comes over to Southern Chester, Pa., after serving two years as a graduate assistant for Temple University. She was also a talented athlete on the diamond, being selected to the Atlantic 10 conference squad for two seasons. Grace was the captain of the 2004 Owls team that went into NCAA tournament regional play.
Taking what she has learned from playing and coaching at the Division I level, Grace feels that this will make the transition easier for both her and the team. It was not as smooth in the beginning stages.
“I am definitely blessed to have this opportunity at such a young age,” said Grace. “This is a big transition from being an assistant to a head coach. The transition with these players was tough because I was expecting so much, and now I do have to take steps back. I look forward to having the girls trust me and believe in the knowledge that I have of the game that I am bringing to them.”
Fans should expect a more conditioned and fundamentally sound team this year. Having been accustomed to the lackadaisical approach towards physical fitness in past years, the team has brought into intense training.
The Lady Lions will enter the season with two glaring losses on the roster. Britney Adams and Charisse Colston (Oakwood Village, OH/Bedford) will not return after promising first seasons. Colston batted .610 and was the Lincoln female athlete of the year.
Despite these two blows, Grace returns a wealth of talent. She is really excited about her two young pitchers, sophomore Taylor Hines (Beachwood, OH/Beachwood) (Beachwood, Oh./Beachwood) and freshman Erin Rucker (Shaker Heights, Ohio/Shaker Heights HS) (Shaler Heights/Shaler Heights). As a freshman, Hines struck out a team-leading 43 batters.
“She has come a long way,” Grace said of Hines. “She is in better shape. All the pitchers and catchers are working on new pitches. They notice the difference.”
Grace expects continued growth from these two along with first-year catcher Mariah Liberty (Waterbury, Vt./Harwood Union HS) (Vermont/Harwood Union).
“Erin is going to bring a lot of enthusiasm and hard work to the team,” said Grace. “We have our catcher (Liberty), she's going to get there. Her IQ for calling the game is going to get there sooner than later.”
Senior shortstop Tanina Cook (Landover, MD/Charles Herbert Flowers) (Landover, Md./Charles H. Flowers), junior outfielder DeJuana Mosley (Chester, PA/Chester) (Chester, Pa./Chester), and junior first baseman Jasmine Baxter (Washington, D.C./McKinnley Tech) will provide experience. Mosley, who is also a forward on the basketball team, finished last year with a .340 batting average, driving in 20 runs with 17 hits. Cook had 22 hits and 25 runs scored in 2009. The team will rely on the hitting of this trio.
The team also returns sophomore outfielder Sharay DuBose (Salisbury, Md./Parkside HS) (Salisbury, Md./Parkside) and junior outfielder/catcher Sasha Evans (Hampton, VA/Phoebus) (Hampton, Va./Phoebus). Senior outfielder Chanelle Harris (Philadelphia, PA/Penn Wood) (Philadelphia, Pa./Penn Wood) joins her basketball teammates, along with senior outfielder Alexandra Lobban (Upper Marlboro,MD/) (Upper Marlboro, Md.), senior first baseman Collene Cumberbatch (Piscataway, NJ/Piscataway ) (Piscataway, NJ/Piscataway), and freshman infielder Erica Bell (Owing Mills, Md./Baltimore Polytechnic Institute) as new imports. Grace expects an increase in stolen bases with the speed of Evans and Harris.
Going winless in their first season of varsity competition, followed by a five game improvement last year, the goal (along with her 100 percent retention rate) for Grace is to double that total.
“My goal is to go undefeated,” Grace said. “I am very optimistic. I feel really good. Going from the word of mouth about how the team played last year, I'm really progressing for that. They have the right tools and skills. It should be attainable.”
The team opens the season this weekend at the CIAA round-up and will be playing a full conference schedule this year. The team will play conference foes Bowie State, Elizabeth City State, Virginia State, Virginia Union, and Saint Paul's College. Grace is not shying away from the challenge. This attitude has already rubbed off on her players, evident by an increased confidence.
“I'm really happy with how we've progressed,” Grace said. “If I were to be given a great team, how much fun would that have been? Life is not easy, it's a challenge”
