Newcomers make up half of the resurgent Saint Vincent softball team’s roster: seven freshmen and a transfer.
Norwin graduate Alexandra Dillner isn’t one of them, but it might seem that way. The sophomore left fielder made major changes in the offseason and has gone from part-time starter to the leading hitter in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference at .519.
“I would look back at last year, and my swing is completely different,” said Dillner, who has helped the Bearcats to a 17-3, 6-2 record. “I had the mentality that I needed to be a home-run hitter because if I wasn’t a home-run hitter, then I’m going to get benched.
“I’m now a singles and doubles hitter. I haven’t hit a home run this year, and I’m not even upset about it because I’ve shortened my swing, I’ve condensed it, but I still have the same power that I did. Now I’m keeping my hands in, my front shoulder in, staying close to the ball and I’m hitting more line drives than I’ve ever hit in my life.”
Dillner credits Saint Vincent coach Nicole Carr with the adjustments, which came during a practice about two weeks before the season.
“We try to look at little things for every player,” Carr said. “Sometimes there’s one little thing you can tweak, and it can change everything for them. I was telling her to let the ball come deeper into the zone.”
Dillner’s stat line also includes 15 RBIs and a team-best 10 doubles. The most unique numbers, though, are only one strikeout and one walk in 54 at-bats.
“I somehow manage to put the bat on the ball no matter what,” Dillner said. “I think of myself as being in the batting cage. No pressure whatsoever.”
Her one strikeout came Tuesday when the Bearcats were swept in a doubleheader against Westminster, and it’s still fresh in Dillner’s mind.
“I can’t believe I struck out,” Dillner said. “I’m still kicking myself about that. I’ve been thinking about that ever since I did that. I still remember that it was a rise ball. Ugh. It’s killing me.”
Several other Westmoreland County products are playing key roles for the Bearcats. Hempfield graduate Kelsey Tobin, one of three seniors, is batting .333 and serves as one of the main leaders. Sophomore infielder Olivia Person (Hempfield) is hitting .437 with 19 RBIs and a PAC-leading 27 runs. Sophomore center fielder Leah Yoder, a transfer from Alderson Broaddus and a classmate of Dillner’s at Norwin, is batting .373.
The Bearcats’ main power threat is senior Abbey Ginter (.456 average, six homers, PAC-leading 31 RBIs), a candidate for conference player of the year.
“I thought we’d do well, but I am surprised we’re doing this well, especially since we didn’t go to Florida because I thought that would hurt us,” Carr said.
Saint Vincent won the PAC title and reached the NCAA Division III Tournament in 2019. The next season was wiped out because of the pandemic, and last year was cut short because of covid protocols, as well.
Getting back to the NCAAs might mean going through first-place Westminster (21-2, 8-0) in the PAC Tournament. The Titans won 6-0 and 4-0 on Tuesday.
“We were too tense and went in there and felt too much pressure because of the high stakes of the game,” Dillner said.
Dillner, though, is ready for a rematch. After the doubleheader, she talked some playful trash to the father of former Norwin teammate Sydney Lokay, who is a freshman pitcher on Westminster.
“I said to George, ‘Don’t worry, we’ll beat you when it matters.’ I hope we do because now I feel like I’m talking a big game,” Dillner said.
“I really hope we step it up because I’m going to feel like an idiot if we lose again.”
