Shubert helps Nordonia softball by taking lots of walks
Senior third baseman Elizabeth Shubert has drawn 20 walks this season as a member of the Nordonia softball team.
That is more than double the amount than the player on the team with the next highest total. That remarkable statistic comes as no surprise to Knights head coach Marissa Rizzo.
“Elizabeth has a great approach in the batter’s box,” Rizzo said. “I truly think it’s because she gets in that box, and you can just tell that she’s ready to attack. I think it strikes a little bit of fear in pitchers when they see her, which is great.
"She brings a sense of intimidation and competitiveness that you just love to see in that corner spot. She’s been a lockdown third baseman for us offensively. It’s not easy to be that disciplined in the box. She’s such a smart hitter. She has average speed, but she’s a really smart base runner, which helps her a lot.”
Shubert, who also played soccer for Nordonia for three years, drew two walks May 2 in Nordonia’s 6-0 loss at home to Suburban League National Conference rival Brecksville-Broadview Heights.
On May 5, she drew another walk in the Knights’ 6-3 defeat at Strongsville.
Nordonia is now 7-14 overall and 4-8 in the National Conference.
Shubert, the Knights’ starting third baseman last season too, does a lot more at the plate than just draw walks. She has a .327 batting average with three home runs (including two in one game), 16 RBIs and 14 runs.
Defensively, Shubert has been spot-on this season.
“Elizabeth has a really strong arm, and she has a really good read on what’s going to happen,” Rizzo said. “She takes charge, especially on those short grounders that will happen coming towards the shortstop. She’s really great at cutting across and making those plays that need to be made, especially when you have those first two runners who are quick and just trying to get on base.”
According to her coach, Shubert’s all-around play has improved since last season.
“She puts in a lot of hard work, she plays all summer and she works out all fall. She loves to play. That’s her thing,” she said. “She loves the game and loves being competitive, so she comes out aggressive and sets a really good tone for the rest of the team. She’s definitely a team leader. I think the girls definitely look up to her as a leader with the passion that she brings. She’s really good at hyping the team up and getting her teammates really into the game.”
Shubert, who carries better than a 4.0 grade point average, plans on continuing her softball career at Bethany College in West Virginia.
But before embarking on the next phase of her life, Shubert has the rest of this season to think about, and she takes her role on the team very seriously.
“Elizabeth is a really coachable kid,” said Rizzo. “She’s always taking in everything that we’re giving her and always putting it out there immediately. What we tell her transfers well from us talking it out with her to her executing on the field.”
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Shubert helps Nordonia softball by taking lots of walks
