Nicola Simpson and Taylor Fitch swept the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) weekly awards, being named the WAC Pitcher and Player of the Week respectively.  

Simpson, a senior two-way athlete (pitcher and hitter) who was born and raised here in Seattle, received the pitching award after pitching a total of 16 innings in a span of three games, Feb. 14-16, not allowing a single earned run, while allowing just four hits, two walks, and keeping an ERA of 0.00 for four straight games (0.97 on the season). This is Simpson’s second time receiving this award. Simpson joined the Redhawks last year, after spending two years at the University of Tennessee, where she helped bring the team to the Women’s College World Series. 

Fitch, a junior third baseman from Woodinville, Wash., received her award after recording a batting average of .389 this past weekend. Fitch also recorded eight hits, six of which were extra base hits, four runs and 10 RBI’s, all in 18 at bats.  

The following is an excerpt from a Feb. 19 interview. Initials indicate the speaker.  

DD: What made you choose Seattle U? 

TF: “The biggest thing for me was, Coach Hirai called me about an hour after I entered the [transfer] portal and just told me how much I would make an impact here and that I would be valued and that he believed in me. He also told me what I needed to do to become a better player, which was super good to hear because not a lot of coaches would tell you that right off the bat. So I knew he knew me as a player and that he knew he could make me better, that was a big reason.”  

NS: “I got my undergrad elsewhere and I wanted a master’s in criminal justice, which is hard to find, so I think aligning my softball goals with also my academic goals, cause obviously softball doesn’t last forever, and so I think that led me here and I’m a homebody, I love being with my family and being back home. And also getting to hit too, because that was something I wanted, but it’s hard when you don’t hit for two years to then turn that page.”  

DD: How did you feel when you received your respective awards?  

TF: “I was happy. I thought I had a pretty good weekend. It’s funny because I just go back to thinking of like, when I didn’t produce you know, but it’s good to get some perspective of like, I’m kind of doing the right thing right now, hitting people in and scoring runs. So that was a good perspective, but I’m just excited and excited for another week.”  

NS: “Yeah, I think it’s awesome that we were able to help the team and walk away with some wins and really use that momentum going forward. So I don’t think that changes the course for either of us. I think it’s just, put your head down and get back to work.”  

DD: Do you guys have any kind of like, game day rituals? Something you always do before a game, day of, day before?  

NS: “We eat [everyone laughs],”  

TF: “I think the only thing, I’m not superstitious, actively anti superstitious, but one thing I do, is I always have an energy drink. It’s normally an Alani energy drink, sometimes a Red Bull, but I always have one.”  

NS: “I just have my hair done. I gotta have good hair.”  

DD: “[Laughs] Look good, play good.”  

DD: What’s your guy’s goals for the rest of the season? 

NS: “I think just taking it pitch by pitch, one pitch at a time mentality going forward. I think just being the best, most competitive versions of ourselves every day will lead us to good outcomes and what we want to be, you know really focusing on the process and the outcome takes care of itself.”  

TF: “Yeah, I think as a team, focusing on doing the little things right and staying hungry. We’re all really close, so with that comes a lot accountability and when we hold each other accountable and push each other, that’s when good things happen… Personally I wanna keep getting more RBI’s. That’s kind of my focus this year, scoring runners when they’re on, so that’s a personal goal.”  

NS: “Team-wise win the WAC.”  

TF: “Of course, of course.”  

Seattle U Softball hit the road last Friday and picked up three wins, defeating Northwestern, Long Beach State and Oregon State with scores of 3-2, 10-8 and 7-5 respectively. The team will stay on the road for one more series, then head home March 7 to take on Abilene Christian for the beginning of conference play.