Anoka-Ramsey Community College Introduces Softball

Despite a rough start to the season the Anoka-Ramsey Community College (ARCC) Golden Rams women’s fast pitch softball team shows promise for the future. Although losing by significant numbers in their first 5 games, Coach Dave Alto said, “It’s been a tough start, but I’m not asking for wins right now, all I’m asking is that the girls show improvement every day.” The team held a media event March 9, 2010, where reporters could watch practice and interview the coaches and the team.

Alto has been coaching fast pitch softball for 19 years throughout different high schools in Minn. This is his first year coaching at the collegiate level and he is hoping things can progressively begin to improve. “I enjoy watching and helping student-athletes mature into adults,” he said, “I have a passion for the game and this is what I love to do.”

The players for the softball team all signed up this fall and were not recruited. The Golden Rams held a 14-practice tryout last fall for all the girls that signed up. The team consists of all freshmen hailing from the high schools: Anoka, Coon Rapids, Cambridge, North Branch, Mora, Princeton, Spring Lake Park (2), St. Francis (3) and Turtle Lake High. Coach Alto plans to start recruiting for the team next year.

The team practices in the Armed Forces Reserve Community Center gym, located in Cambridge, Minn. Before the practice started, the girls joked around and got their pictures taken while sporting their new white, purple and yellow jerseys that said Anoka-Ramsey on the front. Once the practice began, though, they got to work and things became more serious. The general theme of the practice seemed to be hard-work and getting better every day.

The team started by doing warm-up activities including lunges, jogging and stretching. After the girls were all warmed up, they began playing catch with the softball and their gloves. The girls chose partners to throw with and started tossing the ball from a sitting position, but then progressed to their knees and eventually standing throws. The next drill they did was called “soft hands” in which one partner rolled the ball to the other partner, who would caress the ball, then throw it back. The practice continued for just over an hour and the team was tired after. “It’s tough, but we all enjoy the game,” said outfielder Erin Cahoon, slightly out of breath after the long practice.

Coach Alto was very involved in the practice. He pointed out bad technique and constructively helped the girls correct the issue. Alto never once yelled, but when he spoke, the team listened. Alto seemed to be a great motivating coach because he included competitions in the practice, allowing the team to work hard and have fun.

By the beginning of next year the team hopes to have an on-campus field to use for home games and practices. The Golden Rams currently have a 0-5 record, but they are keeping their hopes up and have another 42 games left this year.

To view video footage follow the link.

http://www.youtube.com/user/gmoola89?feature=mhw4#p/u/1/qKtMtUB65QQ