Softball Senior: Danielle Goubeaux

What is your major and how did you end up at ONU?
Bio Pre-Physician’s Assistant. The right size school with a good science program as well as a good softball team brought me to ONU.
 
What are your plans after college?
I’m attending graduate school as a physician’s assistant at Mount Union.

What motivates you on the field?
I think of our goals of striving to make tournaments and make it to the final four. While on the field I remember to play every play as it comes, focusing on each one individually.

What are your goals for this season?
I want to be first team All-OAC, first team all region, pretty much as high as I can go. Each game in and out my goal is to improve and to make positive results with each at  bat.

What are your goals for the team?
We would love to win the NCAA tournament and our tournament as well; in order to get there we need to win regular season OAC and our OAC tournament. Those are just a few steps to getting where we want to be. We also want to improve every day.

As the only senior this year, do you feel pressure to motivate your team and lead them to a successful season?
I don’t feel pressure because we also have a good captain plus the rest of the team which holds their own role in keeping the team together and making us successful overall.

What advice can you leave for the underclassmen?
To enjoy each season and play your heart out while it lasts. Softball is not something most people can do for the rest of their lives so it’s important to enjoy it while it lasts.

How does it feel to letter all four years?
It’s exciting that I have gotten to play for all four years. I joined just for the mere enjoyment of playing, so I love the fact that I have gotten that opportunity several times over my career.

How does it feel to be on ONU’s .300 club?
It feels good knowing that I achieved at least one of my goals that I set for myself while being here at ONU.  It also makes me want to raise my expectations and improve over the this last season.

Last year you were recognized as first team All Ohio conference and second team Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Central Region as a left fielder, how did this recognition feel?
I was surprised. It was nice knowing the work I put in and what others put in was a group effort and ultimately we pushed each other to make each other better. I know I was able to do this as a result of our team’s hard work my teammates inspiring me to work harder day after day.

You were also named 3rd Team Preseason All-America by Division III Softball, where you expecting this and how did you feel?
I was not expecting it. My big dream is to be an all American, which has been my goal for the last four years. I will be thrilled if by the end of this season I get to that goal.

You definitely came out with a bang, managing five homeruns in your first season as a starter.  What was your motivator behind that success?
The motivation behind any hit, not only home runs, would be the situation for that at bat. Knowing you want to be there for your team and the importance of stepping up when the team is on the line and just doing well on a personal level to help make the team better really pushes me. Achieving all that can lead to our teams success on the field.

Your career .372 average ranks you 8th on ONU’s all-time list, that’s quite an accomplishment. Do you have any personal thoughts on this title?
Make it higher. I would say my goal is just to continue to improve. As a result, I will help our team score, make runs and ultimately win.

How have you seen yourself grow as a player?
As a utility player, I definitely learned to pick up a job or position at a short notice, to get the job done that you are put in, and to do it to the best of your ability. As a freshman and sophomore it definitely lead to my strong ability to play left field and to be a consistent defensive player and an offensive hitter. Multiple positions lead me to picking up the unwavering confidence that all athletes need to poses day in and day out.

How do you balance a busy class schedule along with your rigorous athletic calendar?
Time management. My free time is spent sleeping but also spent at practice or hanging out with the girls on the team. I may lose out on t.v. time but I’m ok with that.  Our goals for our team GPA also keep girls on top of their studies not only during spring but also throughout the course of the year. I also strive for my future goals of grad. school and Physician’s Assistant, I can’t mess around if I’m serious about my future success, which is why I am at school in the first place.

What will you miss most about playing at Northern?
I honestly can’t narrow this down to just one thing. The friends that I have made through softball, our family that I have been a part of for the last four years, and many of the numerous memories we have made with the girls on the team will stick with me forever. I definitely will miss the times when I learned from the younger girls. They taught me not to be so serious all the time. As long as you get things done that’s all that counts. The determination of my fellow teammates and the sweat and tears that they give everyday to the sport because of the heart and the love that they have for the game will also be missed.