<body><div><figure><img src="http://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0YzeN1_0JyfDIJG00" alt="http://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0YzeN1_0JyfDIJG00" width="320" height="239" ></figure>EUGENE — While Oregon softball lost six players in a span of seven weeks this fall, several upperclassmen did what they could to keep the rest of the group together.Senior Alexis Mack and junior Haley Cruse, both starting outfielders for the Ducks, were among a group of older players who tried to keep the team, which had only recently completed fall practice and was adjusting to a new coaching staff, unified while several of their teammates announced they were leaving the program.“They were really the ones to be like, ‘You guys, we need to focus on ourselves and not let the outside media or the world change our opinions on certain things,’” freshman shortstop Jasmine Sievers said.It wasn’t an easy task for obvious reasons, but above all, the players who stayed at Oregon are still friends with their former teammates who left. They know each others' reasons and respect their decisions, even if they’re no longer teammates.“They were used to one style of coaching and playing and they liked that style so they wanted to stick with it and everyone here respects and support their decision. We were all really supportive of them,” Cruse said. "... It was definitely hard to see a lot of our teammates leave, but at the same time, everyone wanted to stay here who is here right now. So we had to make sure that even though it is difficult losing a lot of teammates, we need to make sure that we rallied together and kept moving forward.”It was a massive challenge for new coach Melyssa Lombardi and her staff as well. She credited the upperclassmen with keeping the team together.“It was tough dealing with all of this, but I thought they did a great job of sticking together,” Lombardi said. “I love — I can’t say enough of how the veterans really did a good job of leading the young ones and the new ones.”Several players said leaving was never an option they wanted to explore.“Oregon has always been engraved into my brain that it’s home and I could not imagine leaving here,” said Sievers, Oregon’s top recruit in 2018. “The fans, the atmosphere, it’s so great here. Nut everyone has to do what makes them happy. Obviously, I respect everyone in their decisions but we always support one another.”The departures created opportunity for some players who stayed and others who since joined UO.First baseman Mia Camuso was hitting at the bottom of the lineup last season, but with so much power to replace she is Oregon’s leading returning player in doubles (12) and RBI (24) and will be likely be hitting in the top half of the lineup this season.“I think everybody had different reasons for leaving, but I stayed because I really believe in Oregon,” Camuso said. “I love Oregon with all my heart and I love the fans. That’s the reason I stayed.”</div></body>

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EUGENE — While Oregon softball lost six players in a span of seven weeks this fall, several upperclassmen did what they could to keep the rest of the group together. Senior Alexis Mack and junior Haley Cruse, both starting outfielders for the Ducks, were among a group of older players who tried to keep the team, which had only recently completed fall practice and was adjusting to a new coaching staff, unified while several of their teammates announced they were leaving the program.

Oregon softball upperclassmen kept team unified amid teammate transfers