NORTHRIDGE, Calif. --- One foot on the base while the other is in position to take off, their eyes never leaving the pitcher. The base runner sees the opening and sprint in hopes of making it to the next base with the risk of failure the furthest thing from their mind.Â
The art of stealing a base is one that takes practice, observation and fearlessness. For CSUN, juniors Taylor Nate and Taylor Glover, sophomore Savannah Horvath and freshman Mackenzie Babbitt all have an important skill in common: their ability to steal bases. These Matadors enjoy the thrill and all of the success that comes from taking those first steps off the base in a foot race against the catcher, pitcher and the softball.
As Glover, who has stolen 18 bases this season and 65 during her career with CSUN, said, "You just have to go for it. There is no hesitation. It's a competition between you and the catcher and you have to win."
In her third season with the club, Glover has been one of the most prolific base stealers in CSUN and Big West Conference history. At 65 for her career entering the weekend, she owns the program's Division I record and the program's single-season Division I record with 28 stolen bases in 2015. The 65 steals also ranks seventh in Big West Conference history and she still has a season to play.Â
CSUN head coach Tairia Flowers, in her sixth season in charge of the Matadors, also shared the importance of stealing bases: "I think it definitely creates opportunities for your team, so if you're not hitting the ball as well or seeing the ball as well you can still make stuff happen."
Entering the final weekend of the season, the Matadors have 82 stolen bases on the season to rank second in the BIg West Conference. After setting a new program Division I record with 84 last season, the Matadors are looking to break the program record for the second-straight season.Â
Though, being fearless is an important part of the art of stealing bases, it is not the whole enchilada. Horvath described her struggle to become great at stealing bases one that took lots of practice.
"It's funny because I never considered myself quick, but once I got to college, our coaching staff really taught me how to read the pitcher better," said Horvath. "Being able to get a better first couple steps off the base is really important. It took a lot of sprints and fitness because I am not the fastest person. It is the leads and jumps that need to be good."
Horvath has had a sensational sophomore season and enters the final weekend of the regular season already tied for seventh in program history with 34 in her career. She is the only person in the Best West Conference that has accumulated over 10 home runs and stolen bases during the 2016 season. Horvath leads the Matadors with 13 home runs and 20 stolen bases.
"I am growing as a player," Horvath added. "Being able to perform at a higher level, by setting higher standards for myself, means that I can reach bigger goals for my team."
Junior Taylor Nate
With 11 stolen bases and three home runs, Nate also explained how crucial those first steps off the base are for any player trying to steal a base. She added the fact that being able to read the pitcher and the defense is of equal importance when it comes to stealing bases.
"Having the ability to steal bases keeps everybody on their toes and puts a lot of pressure on the other team," said Nate, who recently became the 10th player in program history to reach 30 career stolen bases and is tied for ninth in program history.Â
The technique Babbitt uses, who currently has 14 stolen bases this season, seems to come from her more aggressive nature rather than using a certain strategy to get off of the base.
"Whenever an opportunity is given I feel like I just have to take it," Babbitt said. "It also helps that I am one of the faster girls on the team, so it can sometimes be easier for me to take the base."
Though Babbitt is having a solid rookie season, tying for ninth in the league with her 14 steals, she is not content with her performance.
"I definitely want to build from this season, and I want to start off stronger than I did this year. I came in nervous and I had a lot of expectations for myself so I intend to work harder and make next year better," Babbitt explained.Â
All four will return to the squad in 2016 and the team will also get a boost from the returns of Aliyah Ricks (14 career stolen bases) and Carissa Sherman (19 career stolen bases) from injury.Â
A winner's mentality seems to run throughout the entire softball squad. They own a season record of 31-22 and a Big West record of 11-7, angling to finish the year with another solid finish in the Big West Conference standings. The Matadors are a very family-oriented team with all of the ladies devoted to helping each other achieve their goals.
"We fight together and we fight until the end. We have a lot of team spirit and we get crazy and loud because we want everybody to perform at their highest," said Babbitt.
"Outside of winning, being around my teammates is my favorite part of the game; they are my second family," Horvath shared.Â
Coach Flowers agreed that building a bond between the players each year helps determine the team's success; working together and appreciating one another is a huge determinant of that.
The Matadors will face off against UC Davis this weekend to finish off their 2016 season play.
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