Brittany Stefano, Softball Senior, Accounting
Uniontown, Ohio
I WILL get my CPA
I WILL do what I can to lead this team to an OAC title
I WILL lead to the best of my ability
Capital Softball senior Brittany Stefano has nearly re-written the school's pitching record book, including holding the school's all-time strikeout record. Capital sports information assistant Bryan DeArdo talked with Stefano about Capital's competition in the conference, the team's in-game chants and her favorite sandwich at Cosi.
BD: What is the best part about being a pitcher?
BS: The control over the game, and how much leadership is involved with the position. I also love having the ball in my hand on every play.
BD: What is the biggest difference between pitching a baseball and softball?
BS: The biggest difference is that it's a natural motion, so we can pitch as many days and games as we want. We're only 43 feet away, and in baseball the mound is 60 feet, so the change and the speed is different. Batters do not have as much time to adjust to a pitch.
BD: Have you ever discussed anything other than softball during a meeting on the mound?
BS: Oh gosh, yeah. Most of the time, we're not talking about softball. A lot of times our pitching coach would just come out and say something non-related just to relax us and get us into the right frame of mind.
BD: What is discussed during those conferences?
BS: I can't tell what we talk about; it's confidential (laughs).
BD: Which opposing OAC team's lineup gets you the most fired up to play against?
BS: Definitely Ohio Northern, they've been our biggest competition. They have outstanding hitting, and in the last few years they've gone from being competitive in the league to being outstanding, winning the OAC last year. Them and Muskingum are always teams that are challenging to play against.
BD: What is your biggest strength as a pitcher, and what would you like to improve on?
BS: I'm a strikeout pitcher, which is what I'm known for. I need to work on keeping hitters on their toes and learning more pitching combinations.
BD: What has been your best performance thus far at Capital?
BS: I threw a perfect game my freshmen year, which was awesome. I broke the strikeout record my sophomore year. This past season, I was able to pitch both games Mount Union and we won both, which was a really cool experience.
BD: Your coach, Nan Payne, played for the University of Michigan. Does she bring that Division I atmosphere to the Capital program?
BS: Absolutely. It's an intense program. We are run like a Division I team, with our running, conditioning, and even in our fundraising. In returns, she gives back to us, which you don't see a lot at this level.
BD: The team has a slew of chants that is sung during games. How many songs do you have, and how much time does it take to learn each one?
BS: We probably have 30-40 cheers, and the freshmen don't know any of them when they come in (laughs). They funniest thing is that we will dream about the cheers and then we'll mention them at practice the next day. My favorite song is our "Foul Ball" song, which was passed down. Every year, a freshmen has to make a new song, and if it's good then we use it.
BD: Is there a motivation on the team to get the program back to where it was in 2002, when the Crusaders won the OAC Regular Season championship?
BS: Oh for sure. We do our team goals at the beginning of the year, and winning the league is definitely our priority. We're looking to go to a national title every year, which is why we set our goals high and play tough competition out of conference.
BD: Do you have a favorite Major League Baseball team?
BS: The Cleveland Indians. I've been an Indians fan ever since I was young. I'm sad they're not doing well this year, but I'm still a loyal fan.
BD: Did you have a favorite Indian growing up?
BS: Carlos Biarga. When I was little he was my favorite. I wore his number when I was younger.
BD: Being a staff member at Cosi restaurant, what is your favorite dish on their menu?
BS: The Buffalo Blue sandwich, with ranch, instead of the blue cheese.
BD: If you could create a Cosi sandwich, what would it entail?
BS: I would have turkey, lettuce, onions, and honey mustard.
BD: Could we call it the "Stefano Strikeout Special"?
BS: You can call it whatever you want (laughs).
BD: What career field would you like to get into upon graduation next year?
BS: I'd like to get my CPA and work in public accounting and go from there. I want to eventually work for a firm.