Players of the Saint Leo Softball program are a unit, sticking together both on and off the field as they celebrate the holiday season with one another.
Credit: @saintleoSB
The Saint Leo University Softball program has one of the winningest reputations on campus after finishing last season with a 37-15 record, 17-7 against the Sunshine State Conference, the SSC title, and a trip to the NCAA postseason. Coach Kinberger, her staff, and the players are ready to defend the title. This is the first season that the Lions will not have arguably the best player in the program’s history, Stephanie Adkins, and are looking for players to step up to continue their winning ways.
Coach K “I believe this team will be a very fun group to watch; each kid in the program truly has their own leadership style and role that helps us… I really think the joy of this year will be watching them all play together and balance various talents, game knowledge, and their desire to compete and win.”
Even with all the success that the Lions have possessed in the recent years, Coach Kinberger and the rest of the team understand that they have a target on their backs as the champions and nothing is guaranteed in sports.
“The biggest challenge for this team will be to stay focused on the process, the details, keep a narrow focus and the championships will take care of themselves. We’ve got a great group of women, and my staff is extremely talented; together we will help each other stay focused on doing SLUSB (Saint Leo University Softball) day-in-day-out,” Coach Kinberger added.
Kinberger wants to remind the readers that the success is because of the players. “We have set up some expectations but the key to a team winning and sustaining success really resides in the athletes’ commitment to be great. These women have committed to SLUSB, each other, and us; I’m truly appreciative of their buy-in, self-accountability, and dedication to excellence. They have built a program Saint Leo can be proud of.”
The softball season begins on Feb. 2 at the D2 Gulf Coast Invitational in Gulf Shores, Ala. The first home game for the team will be Friday, Feb. 9 against Young Harris College.
