Lehigh softball senior reflections
4/23/2015 3:15:00 PM | Softball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh softball program will recognize its four-member senior class prior to the start of Saturday's Patriot League doubleheader against Army West Point. The Class of 2015 has won 69 percent of its games including three consecutive Patriot League regular season titles and a Patriot League Tournament title in 2012.
All four members of this senior class have cumulative grade point averages over 3.0 and as a group they average a 3.3.
With Senior Day festivities set for Saturday, Lehighsports.com caught up with the four members of the Lehigh softball class of 2015.
#2 Emily Bausher – Pitcher – New Egypt, N.J. – Earth and Environmental Science
One of the finest pitchers in school history, Emily Bausher has raised the bar for Lehigh softball, both on and off the field. A three-time all-league performer, a two-time NFCA All-Region performer and the 2014 Patriot League Pitcher of the Year, Bausher ranks second in Lehigh career history in strikeouts, fourth in wins and fifth in ERA. Bausher is an Academic All-Patriot League selection, a co-captain for Lehigh's chapter of Student-Athletes Leading Social Change, and was one of 30 candidates for the prestigious Senior CLASS Award.
What's your favorite Lehigh Softball memory up until this point?
EB: My favorite Lehigh Softball memory thus far is getting to step on the field at our new stadium. It really is a dream come true to play at Leadership Park with some of the most amazing people I've ever played with. I'm so grateful for every day I get to step on the field with my softball family.
What legacy would you like to leave at Lehigh?
EB: I want to be remembered as so much more than just a talented softball player. I would like to be remembered as part of a family. Being a part of something so much bigger than yourself is so much more rewarding for me.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
EB: The relationship that I have with my fellow seniors is so much more than I could describe in words. My girls have been there for me through the toughest moments of my life and I truly love them all. The compassion that Brandi encompasses is inspiring. I've never met anyone so selfless. Cassie has been so passionate and supportive in my life. She's such a strong person and never falters in her values no matter what. I can always rely on Emma to bring me out of a funk. Her outlook on life is so spirited and she always knows how to make the best out of any situation. I honestly don't know where I'd be without these three amazing women. I would be lost. I am and will forever be grateful for their friendship. They are family.
Describe the feeling going into Senior Day. What are some of your thoughts as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
EB: There are a bunch of emotions that go along with senior day, but most of all I feel thankful. I have played the game of softball for over half of my life and it has been the best experience. At the end of last season I wasn't sure how my arm would react to surgery and it was a big risk I had to take. I am so glad that everything went as planned and I got to play my senior season with the best team I could have asked for. I will hate to leave the sport of softball, but I am dreading leaving my teammates this season more.
What will you miss most about Lehigh softball?
EB: I'm going to miss my Lehigh softball family the most. I have spent so much time with these girls and I can honestly say that I will miss every single one of them. Seeing them is the best part of my day, every day. It's going to be difficult to let that go.
What are your postgraduate plans?
EB: I will be attending West Virginia University in the fall to pursue Master's Degree in Geology.
#12 Emma Capetz – Shortstop – Carlsbad, Calif. – Earth and Environmental Science
A steady, reliable middle infielder, Emma Capetz has shown a knack for driving in key runs in her senior season. Capetz earned second team all-league honors at second base as a freshman before moving to shortstop where she was all-league again in 2013. She has provided pop towards to bottom of Lehigh's lineup, with nine extra base hits and a career-high 19 RBI. Capetz was named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll in 2014.
What's your favorite Lehigh Softball memory up until this point?
EC: One of my favorite Lehigh Softball memories up until this point was winning the Patriot League Tournament freshman year and playing in the NCAA Regionals. It's such an incredible feeling to be playing the game I love with my best friends and I am optimistic that we will get the chance make it far again this year.
What legacy would you like to leave at Lehigh?
EC: I would like to be remembered as a positive leader who always brings laughter to the crowd. I know others will continue with the jokes and singing and be able to lighten a tense situation with the right words.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
EC: Our senior class has an extremely unique dynamic. In the four years I've been at Lehigh, I have never experienced another class with the compatibility as our senior class this year. We clicked quickly freshman year and have been a force to reckon with ever since. It has been a pleasure playing with these tremendous softball players and even more of an honor getting the opportunity to call them my best friends.
Describe the feeling going into Senior Day. What are some of your thoughts as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
EC: It is a weird feeling going into Senior Day and being the focus of the celebration. We have gone through it every year, but never in this position. It sure is a bittersweet feeling being not only in the final month of my college days, but also in the final month of my softball career. However, I am excited for all of our families to be a part of the event, as they have invested an indescribable amount of time and support to get us where we are today.
What will you miss most about Lehigh softball?
EC: I will miss my team most. Each year, we seem to have a strong chemistry, bringing us all together much quicker than other programs. We spend so much time with each other that we are all really close, no matter your class, and choose to hang out with each other even outside of softball events. We all bring together so many different personalities that it is a riot when we are all together.
What are your postgraduate plans?
EC: I am working in Costa Rica with an organization called Rustic Pathways, guiding high school students through the beautiful country while encouraging service activities and experiences with the locals. I am beyond excited to have younger students discover their passions and to become a positive influence on their opportunities.
#14 Brandi Hawkins – Catcher – Westminster, Colo. – Behavioral Neuroscience
A two-year team captain, Brandi Hawkins has proven to be the ultimate team-first player. Hawkins has consistently put the team first and her leadership qualities have helped the Mountain Hawks to another successful season. Her most productive season on the field was in 2014 when she started 30 games behind the plate and contributed six hits, including a three-run home run in a win at Rider. Hawkins was named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll following her junior season.
What's your favorite Lehigh Softball memory up until this point?
BH: There are so many amazing memories I have of Lehigh softball, so picking one favorite is really difficult. One of the best memories that comes to mind is winning a Patriot League Championship freshman year and getting to go watch the selection show on TV. Knowing that we could go anywhere in the country to play against the best of the best was a pretty remarkable feeling and experience.
What legacy would you like to leave at Lehigh?
BH: I would like to be remembered as being a great teammate, being one of the hardest workers on the team, and being a player who gave it her all in every swing, throw, block, frame, and cheer throughout these four years. I want to leave behind a legacy of leadership at Lehigh. Being one of the leaders on the team for the last two years means nothing if I didn't teach my younger teammates how to lead genuinely and effectively.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
BH: We seniors have been extremely close since day one of freshman year. We instantly bonded in ways that not many present or past classes understand. Just like true siblings, there are times when we disagree and get on each other's nerves, but at the end of the day, Cassie, Emma, and Emily will always be my sisters.
Describe the feeling going into Senior Day. What are some of your thoughts as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
BH: My feelings going into Senior Day and the end of the year are very bittersweet. It's pretty unbelievable to think that there will be a time in the near future that I will not be rushing off to practice every afternoon and hearing my cleats crunch on the dirt with my Lehigh Softball shirt on. However, I would not want to end my career with any other group of girls than this year's team and am so excited to share some of my last softball moments with my family.
What will you miss most about Lehigh softball?
BH: Lehigh Softball has given me many things these past four years, but of all of these things, I will miss the team the most. I will miss being a part of something that is bigger than myself and connecting with girls that share a love and passion for the game of softball. Along with missing the team itself, I will also miss all the crazy, meaningful activities we experience together.
What are your postgraduate plans?
BH: I will be moving to Binghamton, N.Y. this fall, where I will be applying to nursing school.
#23 Cassie Waggy – First Base – Manteca, Calif. – Psychology
For four years, Cassie Waggy has been an accomplished hitter and team leader for the Mountain Hawks. A three-time first team All-Patriot League selection, Waggy began her Lehigh career as a designated player before settling in at first base. She owns 25 doubles, eight home runs and is approaching 100 career RBI. Waggy also shares the school record with four runs scored in a game last year against Colgate. A Psychology major, Waggy is a two-time Patriot League Academic Honor Roll selection.
What's your favorite Lehigh Softball memory up until this point?
CW: My favorite Lehigh Softball memory up until this point is winning the Patriot League Championship my freshman year. I've won championships before but none had ever felt as special as that.
What legacy would you like to leave at Lehigh?
CW: I would like to be remembered as someone who always picked up her teammates and someone who would always have their back. I also want to be remembered as someone who played hard, but could also bring a smile or two to the field when needed.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
CW: -My relationship with the other seniors is something special that not many others have. They are not only my teammates and best friends, but my sisters. We've talked, laughed, cried, and at times fought, but never have I questioned our love for each other. Since day one we have been inseparable – everyone who knows us can attest to that. I've shared some of the best memories with them that I know we will be talking and laughing about forever.
Describe the feeling going into Senior Day. What are some of your thoughts as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
CW: Going into Senior Day is a bitter-sweet feeling. I can't believe that my four years at Lehigh and a softball career of 15 years is coming to an end. However, at the same time I'm beyond excited and ready to start this exciting new chapter in my life.
What will you miss most about Lehigh softball?
CW: I will miss my team the most. No only this current team, but the three LUSB teams that came before that. We have something special here at Lehigh where it's an unspoken rule to become amazing friends with the girls who you play with.
What are your postgraduate plans?
CW: After graduation I will be joining the Teach for America corps and will be moving to Las Vegas. My post-graduation plans also include the possibility of playing in an NCAA Super Regional!!
All four members of this senior class have cumulative grade point averages over 3.0 and as a group they average a 3.3.
With Senior Day festivities set for Saturday, Lehighsports.com caught up with the four members of the Lehigh softball class of 2015.
#2 Emily Bausher – Pitcher – New Egypt, N.J. – Earth and Environmental Science
One of the finest pitchers in school history, Emily Bausher has raised the bar for Lehigh softball, both on and off the field. A three-time all-league performer, a two-time NFCA All-Region performer and the 2014 Patriot League Pitcher of the Year, Bausher ranks second in Lehigh career history in strikeouts, fourth in wins and fifth in ERA. Bausher is an Academic All-Patriot League selection, a co-captain for Lehigh's chapter of Student-Athletes Leading Social Change, and was one of 30 candidates for the prestigious Senior CLASS Award.What's your favorite Lehigh Softball memory up until this point?
EB: My favorite Lehigh Softball memory thus far is getting to step on the field at our new stadium. It really is a dream come true to play at Leadership Park with some of the most amazing people I've ever played with. I'm so grateful for every day I get to step on the field with my softball family.
What legacy would you like to leave at Lehigh?
EB: I want to be remembered as so much more than just a talented softball player. I would like to be remembered as part of a family. Being a part of something so much bigger than yourself is so much more rewarding for me.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
EB: The relationship that I have with my fellow seniors is so much more than I could describe in words. My girls have been there for me through the toughest moments of my life and I truly love them all. The compassion that Brandi encompasses is inspiring. I've never met anyone so selfless. Cassie has been so passionate and supportive in my life. She's such a strong person and never falters in her values no matter what. I can always rely on Emma to bring me out of a funk. Her outlook on life is so spirited and she always knows how to make the best out of any situation. I honestly don't know where I'd be without these three amazing women. I would be lost. I am and will forever be grateful for their friendship. They are family.
Describe the feeling going into Senior Day. What are some of your thoughts as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
EB: There are a bunch of emotions that go along with senior day, but most of all I feel thankful. I have played the game of softball for over half of my life and it has been the best experience. At the end of last season I wasn't sure how my arm would react to surgery and it was a big risk I had to take. I am so glad that everything went as planned and I got to play my senior season with the best team I could have asked for. I will hate to leave the sport of softball, but I am dreading leaving my teammates this season more.
What will you miss most about Lehigh softball?
EB: I'm going to miss my Lehigh softball family the most. I have spent so much time with these girls and I can honestly say that I will miss every single one of them. Seeing them is the best part of my day, every day. It's going to be difficult to let that go.
What are your postgraduate plans?
EB: I will be attending West Virginia University in the fall to pursue Master's Degree in Geology.
#12 Emma Capetz – Shortstop – Carlsbad, Calif. – Earth and Environmental Science
A steady, reliable middle infielder, Emma Capetz has shown a knack for driving in key runs in her senior season. Capetz earned second team all-league honors at second base as a freshman before moving to shortstop where she was all-league again in 2013. She has provided pop towards to bottom of Lehigh's lineup, with nine extra base hits and a career-high 19 RBI. Capetz was named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll in 2014.What's your favorite Lehigh Softball memory up until this point?
EC: One of my favorite Lehigh Softball memories up until this point was winning the Patriot League Tournament freshman year and playing in the NCAA Regionals. It's such an incredible feeling to be playing the game I love with my best friends and I am optimistic that we will get the chance make it far again this year.
What legacy would you like to leave at Lehigh?
EC: I would like to be remembered as a positive leader who always brings laughter to the crowd. I know others will continue with the jokes and singing and be able to lighten a tense situation with the right words.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
EC: Our senior class has an extremely unique dynamic. In the four years I've been at Lehigh, I have never experienced another class with the compatibility as our senior class this year. We clicked quickly freshman year and have been a force to reckon with ever since. It has been a pleasure playing with these tremendous softball players and even more of an honor getting the opportunity to call them my best friends.
Describe the feeling going into Senior Day. What are some of your thoughts as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
EC: It is a weird feeling going into Senior Day and being the focus of the celebration. We have gone through it every year, but never in this position. It sure is a bittersweet feeling being not only in the final month of my college days, but also in the final month of my softball career. However, I am excited for all of our families to be a part of the event, as they have invested an indescribable amount of time and support to get us where we are today.
What will you miss most about Lehigh softball?
EC: I will miss my team most. Each year, we seem to have a strong chemistry, bringing us all together much quicker than other programs. We spend so much time with each other that we are all really close, no matter your class, and choose to hang out with each other even outside of softball events. We all bring together so many different personalities that it is a riot when we are all together.
What are your postgraduate plans?
EC: I am working in Costa Rica with an organization called Rustic Pathways, guiding high school students through the beautiful country while encouraging service activities and experiences with the locals. I am beyond excited to have younger students discover their passions and to become a positive influence on their opportunities.
#14 Brandi Hawkins – Catcher – Westminster, Colo. – Behavioral Neuroscience
A two-year team captain, Brandi Hawkins has proven to be the ultimate team-first player. Hawkins has consistently put the team first and her leadership qualities have helped the Mountain Hawks to another successful season. Her most productive season on the field was in 2014 when she started 30 games behind the plate and contributed six hits, including a three-run home run in a win at Rider. Hawkins was named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll following her junior season.What's your favorite Lehigh Softball memory up until this point?
BH: There are so many amazing memories I have of Lehigh softball, so picking one favorite is really difficult. One of the best memories that comes to mind is winning a Patriot League Championship freshman year and getting to go watch the selection show on TV. Knowing that we could go anywhere in the country to play against the best of the best was a pretty remarkable feeling and experience.
What legacy would you like to leave at Lehigh?
BH: I would like to be remembered as being a great teammate, being one of the hardest workers on the team, and being a player who gave it her all in every swing, throw, block, frame, and cheer throughout these four years. I want to leave behind a legacy of leadership at Lehigh. Being one of the leaders on the team for the last two years means nothing if I didn't teach my younger teammates how to lead genuinely and effectively.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
BH: We seniors have been extremely close since day one of freshman year. We instantly bonded in ways that not many present or past classes understand. Just like true siblings, there are times when we disagree and get on each other's nerves, but at the end of the day, Cassie, Emma, and Emily will always be my sisters.
Describe the feeling going into Senior Day. What are some of your thoughts as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
BH: My feelings going into Senior Day and the end of the year are very bittersweet. It's pretty unbelievable to think that there will be a time in the near future that I will not be rushing off to practice every afternoon and hearing my cleats crunch on the dirt with my Lehigh Softball shirt on. However, I would not want to end my career with any other group of girls than this year's team and am so excited to share some of my last softball moments with my family.
What will you miss most about Lehigh softball?
BH: Lehigh Softball has given me many things these past four years, but of all of these things, I will miss the team the most. I will miss being a part of something that is bigger than myself and connecting with girls that share a love and passion for the game of softball. Along with missing the team itself, I will also miss all the crazy, meaningful activities we experience together.
What are your postgraduate plans?
BH: I will be moving to Binghamton, N.Y. this fall, where I will be applying to nursing school.
#23 Cassie Waggy – First Base – Manteca, Calif. – Psychology
For four years, Cassie Waggy has been an accomplished hitter and team leader for the Mountain Hawks. A three-time first team All-Patriot League selection, Waggy began her Lehigh career as a designated player before settling in at first base. She owns 25 doubles, eight home runs and is approaching 100 career RBI. Waggy also shares the school record with four runs scored in a game last year against Colgate. A Psychology major, Waggy is a two-time Patriot League Academic Honor Roll selection.What's your favorite Lehigh Softball memory up until this point?
CW: My favorite Lehigh Softball memory up until this point is winning the Patriot League Championship my freshman year. I've won championships before but none had ever felt as special as that.
What legacy would you like to leave at Lehigh?
CW: I would like to be remembered as someone who always picked up her teammates and someone who would always have their back. I also want to be remembered as someone who played hard, but could also bring a smile or two to the field when needed.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
CW: -My relationship with the other seniors is something special that not many others have. They are not only my teammates and best friends, but my sisters. We've talked, laughed, cried, and at times fought, but never have I questioned our love for each other. Since day one we have been inseparable – everyone who knows us can attest to that. I've shared some of the best memories with them that I know we will be talking and laughing about forever.
Describe the feeling going into Senior Day. What are some of your thoughts as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
CW: Going into Senior Day is a bitter-sweet feeling. I can't believe that my four years at Lehigh and a softball career of 15 years is coming to an end. However, at the same time I'm beyond excited and ready to start this exciting new chapter in my life.
What will you miss most about Lehigh softball?
CW: I will miss my team the most. No only this current team, but the three LUSB teams that came before that. We have something special here at Lehigh where it's an unspoken rule to become amazing friends with the girls who you play with.
What are your postgraduate plans?
CW: After graduation I will be joining the Teach for America corps and will be moving to Las Vegas. My post-graduation plans also include the possibility of playing in an NCAA Super Regional!!
Players Mentioned
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