The softball season came to an end with no wins despite the ladies playing and practicing with dedication, according to their coach, Brandon Durden. The team faced tough challenges for months and believes that they have learned and bonded as a result. To cope with their losses, coaches point out the positive things they have done to lift the girls up.
“The girls usually take the loss pretty hard so we just try to stay positive and pick out the good things,” Coach Durden said.
Most of the players are emotional at the end of the game and others might just reflect on it and have the mindset that they need to improve, and learn to do better the next time. These are lessons that transfer to next season and the lessons to life.
“After losing a game, I typically take it in and reflect on it and then move onto the next,” Sofia Hawkins (12) said.
Players like Hawkins lift up her teammates so they know everybody makes mistakes and you learn from them to not make them again.
“I cheer up my teammates by making sure they know that their mistakes are a small contribution to the loss and that we should move onto the next and try not to make the same mistake again,” Hawkins said.
The softball girls still showcase determination and teamwork on the field despite their overall score. Coach also said the team has notable strengths like their ability to track the ball, and whether infield or outfield, they have capability to make quick plays.
“I have an easier time tracking the ball as well as being able to analyze a pitch behind the plate. I’m also good at running bases,” Hawkins said.
Younger players learn core skills from the few seniors on the team.
“Being able to make quick plays is important on the field because softball is really fast paced,” Miller Cox (10) said.
Durden expects to improve each season and knows players learn valuable lessons for on and off the field.
“I expect us to grow and get better. We’re young and we just need to get more experienced and more game action,” Coach Durden said.
Sofia Hawkins is a senior on the varsity softball team and has been playing softball since she was nine years old. Hawkins started playing because she always loved watching baseball when she was little and when she found out there was a sport like that for girls she instantly had an obsession. She plays 1st base, all of outfield and is a catcher for the team. Hawkins plans on trying something new after high school like rushing for sororities and hopefully becoming a marine vet.
Teammates like Kennedi Young (12) also tried to keep her team hype during games. Kennedi has been playing softball since her ninth grade year because her basketball coach told her she had a strong arm. Kennedi plays center field and her strengths are throwing. Young is also a senior on the varsity softball team and plans on trying something new after high school like majoring in finance.
