The end of one chapter leads to the beginning of another

Hey Hillcat Fans!

   I have had the opportunity to blog for the softball team for the last two years. It was hard to keep everyone updated at times, but it has been an amazing experience getting to relay all the softball news to the great fans that we have.
   This year has been a huge roller coaster. Starting at such a high point when we went 30-0, to have a low point where we were really struggling to find that team we were at the start of the season. But, we managed to pull it all together in the end and make it to the national tournament. We got even more blessed as to have it at our home filed here in Claremore. It was an amazing experience to have all the support from our family, friends, and the community there. Although we couldn't quite pull out the wins in the end to make it to Georgia, I could not be more proud of my team. We came along ways this season and we finished with everything we had. I'm so thankful to have gotten to finish my career here at RSU with this great group of girls.
   My seasons of playing the game I love are over, but there is a whole new chapter in my life ready to begin. I will be finishing my student teaching this fall and will hopefully be in my own classroom teaching by this time next year. I do not know where to begin on the thank yous. Thank you to my family, friends, all my coaches, and all those who have supported me through my career. Without you guys I would not have even been close to making it this far. Thank you to all my readers that have made this experience so fun.  Thank you to the great group in the athletic department here at RSU, you guys are amazing! And thank you to all of our fans, without you guys there would be no Hillcat softball. You guys are the ones that kept us pushing when times got rough.
  
Sincerely,
Ashlie Fauchier #3 :)

 2013 Hillcat softball

 

Athletic Banquet





 Games against Bryon College in TN

 Lunch in TN by the river

 Beach day! Orange Beach, AL

 Thank you for all your support!

Can't believe it's almost over

Hey Hillcat Fans!

   I apologize for not blogging that much this season. It's so crazy how fast season has come and now it's almost over. With it being my senior year, I have been trying to just soak it all in. This year couldn't have started any better. We went on a 31-0 start and peeked our ranking at 3rd in the nation. But, we eventually got our first loss in Alabama against the University of Mobile. It was a tough loss, but it definitely made us stronger and pushed us to keep moving forward. We finally got into conference play and got the sweeps against USAO and Mid-America University. Lubbock was next, and we knew we had to show up with our best games. We couldn't pull the wins out but it wasn't stopping us. We have had a couple of down falls since then but I know my team and were not done. We have come along ways from being on top to having to work our way back from the bottom. Every team has their trials and were trying to work through ours now. We are currently ranked 19th in the nation and have a record of 38-11.
   I couldn't have asked for a better team to finish out my senior year with. This group of girls have made my senior year the best. I"m sad to see it go so fast. But, there are a lot of games left and that means more wins to pick up. With a little over 3 weeks left of season I would like to thank my team for making my senior year an amazing year to go out on. From the start my motto was "going out with a bang!" and that's exactly what were doing. We have accomplished so much this year, and were not done. These next couple of weeks have a lot in store for us. Senior night against Oklahoma City, then to their place for two more games, and then conference tournament. After that we are hoping to get a bid to go to regionals, which is the next step closer to nationals.
   Thank you for all the cheers and support. Without our friends, family, and our biggest fans we wouldn't be where we are today.

Ashlie #3 :)

                                             Here is a few pictures of the Hillcats in action.

Week 1 in the Books

Hey Hillcat Fans!

This past week could not have been any better for your Hillcat softball team. Last Wednesday we started our season at Bacone College for a double headed at 1 & 3. We were so excited to finally see what all of our hard work was going to look like. We got there early enough to eat us a good breakfast at Denny's and then it was game time. It seemed as if this day was never going to come. But I knew we were ready. We got out there and had a great warm up and came out on fire! Yolanda Rios came out throwing the heat and our bats were right behind her. We won the first game 14-0, with Shona Guerrero's two run home run and a combined 12 hits from your Hillcats. Laura Fleck finished the game as Rios took the win.
As the second game started there was nothing stopping us. We shut the Lady Warriors out for a second time with a final of 9-0. Rios started on the mound again and her offense was right there with her, this time with 13 hits and two home runs by Cailin Simpson and Katie Ellington. Starting the season off with two big shutout wins was great!
The week was not over though. We faced William Woods University Sunday afternoon for a double headed. The first game was a nail biter and a bit of a pitching dual until the bottom of the 5th when Desiree Ayarzagoitia busted out a solo shot home run. It was just what we needed! Rios went out and shut Williams Woods down, but we weren't done. Candace Monigold wanted in on the action and hit a two run homer to seal the deal for your Hillcats. Rios took the 3-0 win!
Rios started on the mound for the second game as well. William Woods came out with a little fight and scored 3 in the 2nd inning and tacked on another in the 3rd. It was a bit of a wake up for us that they weren't just going to lay down for us. We had to step it up, and that's exactly what we did in the bottom of the 4th as we came back with a 6 spot on the board. A couple of base hits and a home run by Monigold and Taran Threet later and we got back on top with a score of 6-4. We scored again in the bottom of the 5th and 6th to make a final winning score of 11-4. Fleck came out with the relief win.
The week could not have ended any better. 4-0 is a great way to start the season. I can not wait to see how far we go this year. We have more talent than I have ever had the opportunity to play with and if we do our job it will take us exactly where we want to be, nationals!

A BIG shout out to Candace Monigold a receiving SAC player of the week. Hitting .643 for the week with 2 home runs and a slugging % of 1.429 and drove in 11 runs. Thata girl!!

Mark Your Calendars!
Saturday Feb. 23 against Grand View @ 2 & 4, Hillcat Complex
Sunday Feb. 24 against Grand View @ noon & 2, Hillcat Complex

Ashlie #3 :)

T-minus 30 days!

Hey Hillcat Fans!

I hope everyone had a blessed and safe New Years! I could not be any happier to see this new year come. 2012 was pretty good to your Hillcat softball team but, 2013 has so much more to offer. I hope you all are just as excited about this coming season as we are. No worries though, the wait is almost over!

Ashlie #3