This is the seventh in a series of weekly question and answer sessions with members of the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø softball team conducted by team play-by-play announcer Ted Rossman. Each week a different Raider will be in the spotlight. Previous spotlights have featured Stacy Mui, Dorothy Donaldson, Kate Howard, Nichole Rawson, Rachel Smith, and Natalie Rawson, and are available on the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Athletics website (www.Go51³Ô¹ÏÍøRaiders.com).'xml:namespace prefix = o ns = 'urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office' />
In 2002, Elena Isaac (Chandler, Ariz.) became the first 51³Ô¹ÏÍø hurler to win 20 games in a season, going 20-9 as a sophomore. In her career, Isaac has posted a stellar 54-27 record and a 1.54 ERA, while earning first team all-Patriot League honors each of the past two seasons. Isaac seems to have saved her best for last, however, as this, her senior season, has been her best of all. She has posted an 11-2 record and an outstanding 0.40 ERA to date, leading the Patriot League in both categories. Her 88.1 innings pitched also lead the league. A very good all-around athlete, Issac slammed her first career home run in a 4-2 victory Saturday afternoon at Bucknell. She was also the game’s winning pitcher.
Ted Rossman: What is it like to have three other talented pitchers around you this season’
Elena Isaac: It’s amazing, really. Having that much talent along with me is great. It’s good to have a real, complete pitching staff this season.
TR: Do you think your pitching style is similar to any of the other three pitchers [Kate Howard, Kelsey Nordstrom, and Kirstie Kenton] on the staff’
EI: Stacy [Mui], our catcher, says that I’m more like Kirstie and Kate’s more like Kelsey, so I trust that. We’re all different in our own ways, really, which I think is part of what makes us so good as a staff.
TR: How would you describe your pitching style’
EI: I’d say I’m a finesse pitcher. I like to change speeds, I’m not necessarily a strikeout pitcher.
TR: What has it been like for you to have Stacy as a catcher for all four years’
EI: We have great camaraderie. I don’t know what I would do without her.
TR: Many of your teammates have talked about how the team’s goals for this season are to win the Patriot League Championship and a game in the NCAA Tournament. One, do you agree with this assessment, and two, do you have any additional goals for yourself as an individual’
EI: Personally, I want to keep my ERA below 1.00. But our team goals are definitely my focus. We really want to win the Patriot League regular season this year so that we can host the tournament. Then, obviously, we want to win that, and yeah, also a game at NCAA’s.
TR: What factored into your decision to come to 51³Ô¹ÏÍø from Arizona’
EI: I really liked the team, and I really liked the program when I visited here. I looked all over the place ‘ smaller liberal arts schools in California, Emory, Iowa ‘ but I really liked it here. I visited in the fall, and it was absolutely gorgeous. I knew I’d be able to get an amazing education here.
TR: Do you have any plans after graduation’
EI: Not really. I’m moving to San Diego, because I really like the southwest. I love the water, and I love the beach. I’m a psych major, but I don’t know exactly what I’ll be doing yet.
TR: Several of your teammates have spent a semester abroad while at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø. Have you pursued anything like this’
EI: No, I didn’t go abroad. I am an AMS student [51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s Alumni Memorial Scholars program grants high-achieving incoming students a stipend for additional research opportunities while at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø], though, and I used my AMS money to live in Boston last summer. I worked with a professor studying psycholinguistics.
TR: What would you say are some of your favorite hobbies’
EI: I like being outside. I like trying new things. I like cooking, and just hanging out with friends.
TR: What is an example of something new that you have tried while at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø’
EI: I’ve tried field hockey and lacrosse a little bit. We don’t really have field hockey in Arizona, and lacrosse is just starting, so that was fun. I tried scallops the other day for the first time; there isn’t much seafood in Arizona.
TR: Do you think leadership is something that a few individuals should be involved with, or is it really up to everyone’ Do you consider yourself a team leader’
EI: I think everyone shares in leadership. I guess I am looked at as a leader, because I’m forced to be in the center of the field [as a pitcher], but we have a really strong team. It’s been really nice to see people grow.
TR: Many people seem to have trouble understanding the differences between a softball pitcher and a baseball pitcher. How would you describe your position’
EI: It’s definitely a lot more natural, the softball motion. Like sometimes people are surprised that we can pitch almost every day, but that’s why. Other than that, I don’t know how I’d describe it to someone who hasn’t done it, though, that’s hard.
TR: How do you put your team’s 23-7 start into perspective’
EI: I think we’re the kind of team that progressively steps it up throughout the season. We definitely have a lot more potential. We’re great now, but there’s always room for improvement.
TR: Looking back at your four years playing softball here at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø, do this team and this season represent the high points in your career’
EI: Yeah, I’d say it’s the high point of my four years. We have a lot more back-up players ‘ and good back-up players, too ‘ this season than we’ve ever had before. Whereas other years we’ve known that, okay, one or two players are going to score like all of our runs, and like one or two pitchers are going to have to save us defensively, it isn’t like that this year. Everyone on this team is really important.