Matt Cain – Contributor
Owls’ softball standout Catcher, Jacqueline Dumont a graduate student has been on fire since the softball season started leading the team in major statistical categories.
Dumont has a .427 batting average with 35 hits and 20 runs batted in (RBI). This will be her second time being selected as captain for the Owls, Dumont also leads the team in batting average and hits.
With her on-field performance being great, she is also a great leader. The leadership role has benefited her teammates and coaching staff. Dumont’s goals and mentality have been key to her success this season.
Head coach Jillian Rispoli loves to coach her, as well as watch her every time she steps on the field.
“She is a fun player, like an Aaron Judge, every time she steps on the field you feel something special is going to happen,” Rispoli said.
Dumont plays the catcher position, one of the most important positions on the field. She has a good relationship with all the pitchers, which took some time to work on. As an underclassman, she struggled with having a good relationship with her pitchers.
She watches films on her opponents, as well as being the first one at practice and the last one to leave. Rispoli said she should coach one day.
“The way she impacts the game is so special. I want her to get into the coaching side,” Rispoli said.
Dumont has been the heart and soul of the softball team since her junior year. In 2021 Dumont took on the leadership role on the field. Her fielding percentage dropped just a little, but the team’s overall success went up. She would become the team captain for the next two years.
Outfielder Ally Petrella a graduate student, has been her teammate since they were underclassmen. They built a bond on the field and off the field. This shows how much of a leader Dumont is.
“She is a great teammate on and off the field, the go-to teammate,” Petrella said.
Some of the previous seasons have been a steppingstone for the team and for Dumont as a leader. She is an all-around team player, and her teammates love her for that. Dumont picks the team up when everybody is down, and she knows how to hype her team up.
“She impacts up tremendously, she knows how to hype us up and is always passionate,” Petrella said.
There is no denying that Dumont has a natural talent and love for the game of softball. With Dumont having a great season this year, she also wants to repeat what she did last year.
Last season Dumont led the team in batting average and hits. She also had eight home runs, which also was the most on the team. She is doing that again this year, but the biggest goal she wants to achieve this year is all-American and NE10 (Northeast 10) conference player of the year.
“My individual goal is to get all-American and Conference player of the Year,” Dumont said.
Dumont got all-American last year, so grabbing that award again would solidify her greatness as a player. With the greatness of Dumont and her outstanding performance, the team has its sights set on making a run for the conference championship.
The leadership of Dumont and the rest of the captains can make significant run-in postseason play. The Owls our 7-9 in conference matchups and now they look ahead to their next opponent as they try to make a strong mid-season push.
