Softball tries to snap a four-game skid

The Penn softball team aims for its first and last Ivy sweep of the 1998 season. With just four games left in the season to go and trapped in the Ivy League basement, the Penn softball team is not ready to quit -- even though it's been mathematically eliminated. Softball's attitude is that this weekend provides four more chances to show improvement, and maybe earn an Ivy win along the way. The Quakers (10-25, 0-8 Ivy League) host a doubleheader against Harvard (23-20, 6-0) on Saturday at 1 p.m. and another twinbill Sunday versus Dartmouth, both at Warren Field. For the team's only senior, captain Jen Strawley, this weekend is the last of a bumpy intercollegiate softball career. Strawley played three years under the struggling Linda Carothers' program before Carol Kashow took the helm. "It's strange for the end to be in sight," Strawley said. "I have mixed emotions. Coming in I had such high expectations. I would have liked to have won more games and ended on a better note." This year marks Penn's 14th consecutive losing season. The hiring of Kashow was an attempt to break the streak, but it will take time to turn the program into a winning one. Strawley saw the beginning of that transition, but will leave it up to her teammates to finish it. "I guess I feel like I missed out on it, but I want them to have the success they deserve," Strawley said. "I am proud to have been a part of that change." Although this year's record is slightly worse than Penn's 14-21 '97 campaign, the Quakers feel they have taken many steps in the right direction. "I'm definitely happy with the changes," Penn junior captain Lauren Mishner said. "We're much more fundamentally sound. It just takes experience doing it." Mishner cited team defense, throwing out runners and relays from the outfield as some of the greatest improvements over the course of the season. "I think the biggest improvement is attitude and believing we can do it" sophomore Michelle Zaptin said. "And confidence. A lot more is expected of us and next year I expect we should do a lot better." With all nine starters returning, the Red and Blue will be expected to build on this season's changes from the start. "With any team coming together under a new coaching staff and new conditions, you can't expect to win right away," freshman Vicky Frondozo said. "It takes time to work well together and to know each other's style of play. We should play much better next year because of the familiarity." Penn will have its hands full for the remainder of the season as they battle a tough Harvard team Sunday and a Big Green team which is finishing its third varsity season. As far as this weekend is concerned, the Quakers all have one goal in mind. "I'm definitely looking for an upset," Mishner said. "We want to play the role of the spoiler and beat Harvard, and we know we can beat Dartmouth. I'm not ready for next season. We still have four games left."