Michigan State University Athletics
Leaving Their Mark
5/10/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 10, 2005
EAST LANSING, Mich. - They may only have been together for the last two years, but seniors Janette Hurtado and Victoria Morache are witnesses of two drastically different seasons. In 2004, they were arguably part of Michigan State softball's most powerful offenses in the program's history, where it set highs in batting average (.306), home runs (34) and runs scored (297), as well as numerous other categories en route to the Big Ten Tournament title. As seniors in 2005, they have seen eight newcomers added to the team and the offense playing small ball instead to score its runs.
So how do these veteran players lead such a young team after all of the excitement they experienced just one year ago? For one thing, it took some time.
"It was very difficult in the beginning because we (a) didn't know each other that well as a team and (b) it's always hard to adjust to all of the personalities," said Hurtado. "We had to set the tone for everybody and tell them the rules. As the season went on, people started to take responsibility and things got better. But leading and working as a team is an on-going process, it never stops."
Hurtado and Morache both had an immediate impact in their respective first years with MSU. Hurtado came to East Lansing from Rowland Heights, Calif., and started 55 games as a freshman. She has gone on to play in 228 games in her career entering the Big Ten Tournament, good for sixth on the Spartans' all-time list. She has seen her team fail to advance to the post-season in her first year, then qualify for two-straight NCAA Regionals. And after going through the first two months of this season with a 7-16-1 record, the Spartans turned it around and are an incredible 18-11 in April and May.
It is safe to say her conversations with Morache and head coach Jacquie Joseph early in the year paid off.
"Those meetings definitely helped," said the second baseman. "Coach J gave us a lot of advice on how to approach the team. V and I always talked to each other about what we could do to help the team. I think looking back from where we were to where we are now, we have definitely improved. There are still things we can work on, but as a team, I am really proud of them because we have overcome a lot of down times."
Added Morache, "Coach made it clear that it's a process and you can't worry about the outcome as much as you should. She's really drilled that into our heads a lot and we have followed it pretty well."
The 5-5 left fielder transferred from Southern Colorado University (now Colorado State-Pueblo) after her sophomore year. A native of Las Vegas, Nev., Morache made 41 starts in 2004 and followed that up with 51-straight starts in left in 2005. With a .322 batting average at the end of the regular season, she is on pace to record one of MSU's top 30 single-season performances of all-time at the plate.
"I really do enjoy batting lead-off," admitted Morache. "At the school I transferred from, I used to be a lead-off hitter there too, and it feels a lot better for me to be back in that position. To be honest I haven't tried to set any expectations on myself. I just take it one pitch and one day at a time."
While Morache is working on an amazing year with the bat, both seniors understand where this team stands compared to the past, what it has accomplished already this season and what awaits it in the future.
"Last year, we had a lot of returnees and we didn't have such a young team," reflects Hurtado. "We had our pitching and defense back. We led several Big Ten categories in offense. It was pretty hard to fill those shoes this year. We are a young team, but in my mind age doesn't matter. No matter how old or young people are, they still are going to come out and play. So yes we do have a different team on paper, but I think our attitude is still the same.
"The past couple years we have been successful and I think it's because of the people that set the tone during those seasons. And what V and I tried to do this season was set the tone for the youngsters to rise up for the next couple years. Where we were and where we are, it's two different teams. There is so much talent in our younger players that they will do well in the next couple seasons."
With Old College Field ready for what lies ahead, it said good-bye to the seniors May 8. In the duo's final home games vs. Miami (Ohio), MSU shutout the RedHawks 4-0 in both games of a doubleheader. The wins were highlighted by a two-run homer from Morache in the first game and a 1-for-2 affair from Hurtado in the second. Pretty soon, though, their bats and gloves will be on the shelf as each looks forward to life away from the field.
"After this season, I still have another year of academics here," said Morache, whose round-tripper against MU was her third in a Spartan uniform, "so I plan on just enjoying student life because I've never been able to before.
"I'm actually tentatively planning on going back to Colorado and going through fire school to try and be a firefighter. I love the thrill of that. It's something I've always wanted to do since I was little and I can't see myself doing anything else. But if that doesn't end up working out, I'll probably go back to grad school and try and become a physical therapist."
"I am going to have to get used to the fact that I won't be playing softball anymore because I've been playing since I was five," said Hurtado, who will always be remembered as "Shorty" due to her 5-0 frame. "So that will be a change. After that time, I will be ready to transition to having a normal life. I plan on completing an internship here at State and then go back home to California and catch up with my family and friends."
Hurtado and Morache have definitely been through it all in the last two seasons. They guided Michigan State to the top in 2004. They came back in 2005 to help shape a team into one that is destined for greatness. No matter how this season ends, the seniors will be missed. But their attitudes toward the game, and this team, will always be with the Spartan program.
