2025 Softball Season: ‘Building Women of Character’

A group of girls wearing purple and white softball kits with gold lettering gather together on a mound of dirt surrounded by a white circle. The girls have purple visors, and all of them are wearing a baseball glove on their left hand. — Infield players, the catcher and pitcher all gather on the pitcher’s mound during a timeout early in the fourth inning. The women use the time to discuss the last few hits from Bluffton University (Photo by Lizzy Kelley).

As the bitter Michigan winter comes to an end, the Britons begin another spring season of Albion College softball.

On March 27, the softball team played their first at-home doubleheader against Bluffton University, resulting in a loss for both games. Next, they played Grace Christian University, where they won both games. These games gave the team a 10-10 standing for the season so far.

Head coach Leigh Ann LaFave, now in her tenth year, said the team focused heavily on fundamentals during winter preparation. They worked on live hitting, pitching and weight room exercises to improve their strength on the field.

In February, a second batting cage was added to the Dow, which will allow for more indoor training.

LaFave’s focus isn’t just on physical development, though, but also to “lift the girls on and off the field.”

“Our mission is to build women of character in the classroom, on the field and in life,” LaFave said.

This year, Albion has nine seniors on the team, many of whom have been on the team since their first year. Kearney Miller, Kalamazoo senior and one of the team captains, has been a part of the program since she came to Albion. Miller said softball has been a large part of her time on campus.

“Some of my closest relationships have been formed on the team,” Miller said. “My relationships with my coaches and our staff has been really impactful in making me feel safe and confident here.”

Each year, Albion softball participates in the MIAA Tournament, an end of season competition to determine the best team in each division.

Catcher and Grosse Pointe senior Dylan Cardinale has competed with the softball team in the MIAA conference all four years she’s been at Albion. Cardinale said she thinks the team has “a good chance to make some actual damage in the conference this year, I think people underestimate us.”

When it comes to the season itself, Miller said something the team always focuses on “is having great energy during the whole time,” which she believes the team is “in a great spot with.”

“We have a lot of skill and talent on our team, we just lack a little confidence in some areas,” Cardinale said. “We need to walk out there with some swagger.”

A girl stands with a purple and black helmet with a face guard on, staring at something to the right of the photo. She stands with her right elbow raised, gripping a black and blue bat held positioned behind her head. — Cardinale stands at home base, bat raised, getting ready to swing at one of the pitches coming at her. “When I’m at softball, that’s the only thing I’m thinking about,” Cardinale said. “I have so much fun while I’m there because I just love being around my teammates” Cardinale said (Photo by Lizzy Kelley).

Advice for Incoming Players

For players remaining on and joining the roster, Miller said she encourages cherishing their time on the team.

“It’s not always going to be easy, but it’s worth it,” Cardinale said, adding that she hopes players will make the time to get to know their teammates, “and especially talk to (the) coach.”

“Use your resources, be a good teammate and be fully present all the time,” Cardinale said.