April 26, 2004
By Chris Graziano, Villanova Media Relations
Softball is a pitcher's game, so logically it would follow that a team's success relies on its pitching staff. In that regard, the Villanova Wildcats are in good hands, both this year and next.
The reason lies in head coach Maria DiBernardi's two starting pitchers - juniors Shannon Williams (Macungie, Pa./Emmaus) and Kristen Haynes (Fairfax, Calif./Sir Francis Drake). The pair is proving to be worthy of inclusion when talking about the great pitchers that have worn the Villanova uniform; names like Theresa Hornick, Amy Meisinger, Tina Sabunas, Keri Stoller and Carrie Walpole.
But it is not just the individual success that makes the Williams/Haynes duo so dynamic. It is the way they compliment each other.
"We are each other's main supporter," said Haynes, who is currently 10-8 on the season with a 1.72 earned run average. "There is no tension or rivalry between us, we just want to help each other be successful. When one of us is struggling, we can talk about it because we relate to one another."
Haynes knows this from experience, because she got off to a rocky start in 2004. She lost her first five decisions, while giving up nearly five runs per game. But whatever Williams said to her teammate worked, because since going 0-5, Haynes has gone 10-3, leading Villanova's turnaround. Since Big East play started, the Wildcats have followed Haynes' lead to a 19-7 record, including 11-5 in conference games.
The exclamation point in Haynes' turnaround came on Apr. 4, in a league doubleheader at Virginia Tech. She fired the first no-hitter of her career in a 7-0 win, upping 'Nova's Big East record to 6-0.
The key in completing that no-hitter, or any no-hitter, says Haynes, is, "focusing on every pitch and every batter, because it's hard not to realize what's going on. I was a little surprised I did it, but I guess it was icing on the cake."
"I was so excited for her," said Williams. "I was rooting for her on every pitch in the dugout."
Shannon, however, didn't wait too long to turn the tables. Four days later, it was Haynes cheering Williams on, as she threw the second perfect game in school history with an 8-0 blanking of Drexel. It was the second no-hitter of her career, and Haynes would join her with her second later in the month, no-hitting Delaware. That makes three no-hitters so far in 2004 for this "perfect pair."
But getting back to the pitching tradition at VU, Williams was quick to give credit to her predecessor.
"I remember when Theresa (Hornick) pitched her perfect game, I was in awe of her," she said. "When I was a freshman, she was like one of my idols, someone I looked up to. I think it is pretty neat to be able to do what she did."
Williams, currently 17-10 with a 1.51 ERA, is doing a whole lot of the same things that Hornick did. Without having even completed her junior year, Williams is already knocking on the door of several Villanova career pitching records, including wins, ERA, strikeouts, complete games, shutouts and no-hitters. She is also in the top six in the Big East in nine different categories.
Both players have been honored with Big East pitcher of the week awards this season, and while the recognition is welcome, Haynes says, "sometimes playing well is the best reward."
So now that success has found Haynes and Williams, more responsibilities come their way as well, including being the role model for younger pitchers, mainly current Wildcat freshman Tiffany Ross.
"Tiffany is a very positive person, and she asks a lot of questions," said Williams.
Added Haynes, "Me and Tiffany were going through a lot of the same things early in the year, so were kind of both there for each other."
Ross has shown great potential in the early stages of her career, learning to understand the differences between the high school and college levels.
"Pitching is different from so many other positions," explained Haynes, "because there are so many factors involved, so much strategy."
Added Williams, "College softball is more of a hitting game than in high school, so when I came here it was kind of a reality check at first. There is always pressure on the pitchers, but luckily the way our team hits, we can give up a couple of runs and still win the game."
Speaking of arriving at Villanova, each took drastically different routes to get here. Haynes' was more than 2,000 miles; Williams' was a mere 53.
"I wanted to come to the East Cost and this was a good opportunity," said Haynes. "Softball definitely drew me here."
She has found that despite the distance from home, the Villanova softball team is like a family.
"My parents are always there for me, and my teammates have been very supportive, especially the rest of the pitching staff. Other teams might have a lot of competition among them, but we have healthy relationships and we rub off on one another."
Williams has had a similar experience.
"I have developed some pretty good relationships with my teammates, we are very close," said Williams. "In the last few years, I have learned a lot from Kristen, Theresa and Maria (DiBernardi, head coach); as well as the catchers, Kriste (Romano, '03 graduate), Veronica (Alvarez) and Cassie (Koenig). And of course my Dad is always there to support me."
Villanova's 1-2 punch of Shannon Williams and Kristen Haynes has been successful thus far, and that is the reason, according to Haynes, that there is no jealousy between its two members.
When asked what the attitude would be if the season came down to one game, and one of the two was forced to watch, Haynes replied, "It is going to take a joint effort to get us to a situation where one game will decide everything. Our season won't be based on whoever is pitching that last inning."
And Williams, fittingly, provided the perfect response: "I want the team to do well, and I want Kristen to do well."
So far, so good.
