Spring Break
Softball head coach Yori excited to play at home
Players, coach confident in the future of the team
Rachel Dembrun
Issue date: 4/3/09 Section: Sports
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The team, which has struggled to find its footing at times this season, was trying to beat a recent snowstorm that would close the school.
Despite protecting their softball diamond, the weather ultimately prevailed.
"It's kind of like a starting-over point," Yori said. "Use what we already know, take what we already know, use that as a learning tool to be able to make ourselves better for the second half of the season."
The Rams, a 13-16 ball club, will have a chance to regroup and re-evaluate their team as a whole over the next six weeks. The Rams competed against BYU Thursday and lost 11-0. The Rams will host the Utah Utes at 3 p.m. today.
Despite this season's ups and downs, the players remain confident in Coach Yori, now in her ninth year with CSU.
Kelli Eubanks, a freshman pitcher, says Yori has been successful in past years because of the way she motivates her team.
"She definitely knows what goals to pick and what she needs from the team and what she needs to bring to the team to keep us going and to keep the team moving forward," Eubanks said.
Part of setting those goals for Yori comes in practice. No matter their outside distractions, it's "softball time" when players come to the field.
Kim Klabough, a senior pitcher who has played for Yori for four years, describes the coach as a good motivator.
"She can get pretty intense, but I think it's good for us. It really helps us out. It brings us to another level -- the level we need to win at."
In a strong, competitive conference like the Mountain West, Yori said the Rams are holding their weight. The Rams beat the San Diego State Azetcs to clinch the conference championship in 2003.
"There's something really special when you see a group work together and culminate into something special," Yori said of the 2003 team.
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