Spring Break
Botelho carrying Drexel's offense
Alex Falk
Issue date: 4/17/09 Section: Sports
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So far this season, she has been just as dominant, if not more. Up to this point, Botelho is leading her Dragons in every major offensive statistical category. She also leads the CAA in batting average (.419), slugging percentage (.676), on-base percentage (.479), hits (44), home runs (six) and total bases (71).
"It's really nice to have someone at the plate that you have a lot of confidence in that they're going to get RBIs in or grab the hit to start the rally," Drexel head coach Kim Camara said.
Along with her individual accomplishments, Botelho's team also currently sits in fourth place in the CAA - the last qualifying position for the CAA Championships. If the Dragons are going to seriously contend, Botelho cannot be the only person putting the team on her back, although she is not the only successful hitter on the team.
Although her supporting cast is key, Botelho's accomplishments are certainly a plus.
"I think it certainly helps," Camara said. "She's really hot right now. In the past, she's gone through slumps at this time of the year, so it's nice that she's hot going down the stretch. She needs some help; obviously one hitter can't do it by herself.
"It's nice that she's one of the hardest outs in the country. I mean, she's struck out two times all year. The fact that she's going to put the ball in play, especially hard, every at-bat makes it a lot harder for the defense to play."
Botelho's main focus is not her individual statistical accomplishments, but much more important to her is success on the team level.
"I know as a team we definitely need to make the CAA [championship's] this year. If not this year [then] definitely next year," Botelho said. "We are coming up into our last three weeks and that's really the main focus. We think with our defense that our offense will come along."
Obviously Drexel would love to see another of its own top-level intercollegiate teams succeed as the women's basketball team did, but it is hard to stray away from Botelho's accomplishments. There is more than a great chance that she could finish this season with her batting average well above .400.
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