By David Wolcott, Old Colony Memorial
KINGSTON, Mass. -- Alex Ruprecht began the final part of her journey to double degrees in Elementary Education and English last week when classes opened for the Bridgewater State University senior.
While she’s still a little ways away from having her own classroom, the Silver Lake graduate is already using the batting cage at her Kingston home to pass along her softball knowledge to the next wave of Laker superstars.
“I’m looking at the batting cage outside my window right now. My dad and I put the cage up at the beginning of the summer and I love having it right there for me because I spent a lot of time as a kid walking down to the Pottle Street field to work out,” Ruprecht said. “I love softball and I love to teach, so I guess this was kind of a natural progression for me.
“I see myself using a lot of the techniques I’ve learned in the classroom when I’m working with a young softball player. It the same philosophy. I want to be constructive and be positive.”
Not to give away all her secrets because Ruprecht still has two season of athletic eligibility left, but she offered a couple of pointers you can use when it’s your time to step up to the plate.
“I like to keep it simple. Relax at the plate and make solid contact with the softball. See the ball, hit the ball,” she explained. “Another thing I like to try to do is stay back on the ball for as long as I can so I can see what the pitch is doing.”
As an overall softball trainer, it’s hard to beat what Ruprecht brings to the athletic table. She was a catcher with Silver Lake’s JV program before playing some shortstop and then starting at second base at the varsity level.
Ruprecht’s been part of a unique rotation in the outfield in her three seasons at BSU. She plays every game, but the lineup the Bears face that particular day dictates whether she’ll started in left, center or right field.
“I started out at Bridgewater as an infielder but the coach asked me about moving to the outfield because it was a way to get my bat in the lineup every day,” Ruprecht said. “Playing the outfield was a little bit of a challenge at the start because it’s a new view of the field but I’m getting more used to playing out there. I feel I can play anywhere. Just put me out there and I’ll chase the ball down.”
Ruprecht’s bat has been a productive part of the Bears offense. She jumped in feet first, starting almost every game as a freshman and a sophomore. She hit .324 with a pair of homers and 33 RBI her first year and followed that up with a great sophomore campaign.
She was off to a excellent start to her junior year as a team captain with six RBI and a stolen base in 12 games. Bridgewater State had a record of 4-8 when everything was stopped it its tracks by COVID-19.
“We were in Kissimmee, Florida, and just getting the season started,” Ruprecht recalled. “We were hearing things like we might have games canceled for a week, and then it came down that the MASCAC was calling off the season. It came down so quickly and it hit all of us hard.”
If you are interested in talking with Ruprecht about the softball training sessions you can contact her at alexruprecht12@gmail.com.