This is the sixth in a series of weekly question and answer sessions with members of the 91Â鶹¾«Æ· softball team conducted by team play-by-play announcer Ted Rossman. Each week a different Raider will be in the spotlight. Previous spotlights have featured Stacy Mui, Dorothy Donaldson, Kate Howard, Nichole Rawson, and Rachel Smith, and are available on the 91Â鶹¾«Æ· Athletics site (www.Go91Â鶹¾«Æ·Raiders.com)'xml:namespace prefix = o ns = 'urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office' />
Junior second baseman Natalie Rawson (Palmdale, Calif.) has started all 28 of the Raiders’ games thus far this season, and has been a key component in 91Â鶹¾«Æ·â€™s 21-7 (3-1) squad that currently sits in first place in the Patriot League. Natalie appears well on her way to her third straight first team all-Patriot League selection, as she leads the Raiders in runs batted in (18) and doubles (11). She is a career .334 hitter, and her 21 career home runs rank third on the all-time Raider list. Her older sister Melissa, who graduated from 91Â鶹¾«Æ· last year, is the Patriot League’s all-time home run leader with 30. Natalie’s twin sister, Nichole, starts at shortstop for the Raiders.
Ted Rossman: Has it been difficult to adjust to playing second base this season, after playing first last year’
Natalie Rawson: Not really. I played second a little bit two years ago. Since second is also on the right side of the infield, it’s not that much of an adjustment. I’ve basically played everywhere, like I played shortstop my freshman year.
TR: How would you assess your team’s 21-7 start’
NR: We’re having such a good season. We have a lot of motivation to repeat. Whereas last year we came on at the end and won the Patriot League Tournament, this year we want to win it outright, like win the regular season so that we can host the Patriot League Tournament.
TR: What is your mindset going into this weekend’s four-game series at league co-leader Bucknell’
NR: Bucknell’s always pretty good. They’re the kind of team that likes to upset people, so we’re definitely going to have to bring our game with us.
TR: Do you have a teammate who you particularly admire’
NR: I really admire my sister [Nichole]’s love for the game. Her attitude is amazing, and she just has a great aura about her. Also, our catcher, Stacy [Mui] has made a huge impression. She’s the backbone of our team. She’s an unsung hero, a quiet hero.
TR: How happy are you that Nichole transferred to 91Â鶹¾«Æ· from Marist this year’
NR: I love it. I cried after our last high school game, because I didn’t think that we would ever play together again. When Melissa graduated after last year I was sad because I’d always played with one of my sisters, and it didn’t look like I would be able to anymore. Nicki’s a great support system for me.
TR: You’re only a junior, but do you have any thoughts on what you want to do after 91Â鶹¾«Æ·â€™
NR: I’m trying to get an internship this summer in either business management or advertising. I’m majoring in Poli Sci, because it’s what I’ve found the most interesting here. I’m not good at Econ at all [laughs].
TR: What factors led you to leave California for 91Â鶹¾«Æ·â€™
NR: I had always wanted to go to the other side of the country. Every school that I applied to was on the east coast. 91Â鶹¾«Æ· recruited me the most, like Coach Sax had Melissa and liked her, so I guess she thought that if she has sisters, why not try to get them, too [laughs]. I knew that I’d be able to go home on Christmas and over the summer, so I thought it would be a good thing to try. I love it; I want to stay on the east coast after I graduate.
TR: Many of your teammates have talked about how close your team is. How does this relate to your team’s success on the field’
NR: I think it plays a huge part. We all really connect, both on and off the field. I think it helps us play better with each other, because we know how to react to each other. Like if someone makes a mistake, we know if she needs space or if she needs someone to talk to.
TR: How is Coach Sax able to relate to the team so well’
NR: I think she does a really good job understanding that each individual is a very different person, and that everyone needs to be coached differently in order to play their best. She changes her coaching style for each individual player.
TR: Do you have a most embarrassing softball moment’
NR: Yeah, I’m sure I do, just let me think [laughs]. Oh, back in travel ball, I used to catch for Nichole. When she wasn’t pitching, sometimes they’d send me out to the outfield. And I am not a very good outfielder [laughs]. So there was this one fly ball that I misjudged, and it was kinda wet, so I slipped and fell. I got up and ran to the ball, and I guess I didn’t look around where I was, because I threw the ball and it ended up going further into the outfield.