This spring the girls softball team is practicing and preparing for the start of their season on March 24 at the Tiger field. Returning seniors have spoken about their thoughts about the team’s preparation for this coming season.
Maliyah Salas (12) said, “To prepare mentally I’m going to just have fun since it is my last year and physically just practice more.”
Having fun is one of the most important steps of making a winning team. Constantly bonding with teammates and having fun is what creates a strong team.
Salas also said, “The most challenging obstacle when I play is my mentality. There are times I get in my head but usually a teammate helps me get out of it before the game’s over.”
Uplifting teammates is a sign of a strongly bonded team which leads to big accomplishments. Even with supporting teammates, the sport itself is very mental.
Mikayla Arista (12) said, “The most challenging obstacle when playing is the mental pressure that I put on myself, because I have high expectations for myself and want to play the best that I can.”
Standing out on the field can get lonely leaving the thoughts and doubts to take over. Doubts can make a player question their ability to play and fulfill their position.
Arista said, “Something I want to perfect is hitting in situations where a hit is needed. I want to be able to move runners and come through when it matters most.”
Everyone has a job that they need to do when on the field. Not being able to do your job and lower a players confidence but with good teammates they will uplift their teammates when needed.
Learning to stay positive is challenging but after ten years of playing, Salas said, “There honestly is nothing I want to perfect because in sports there is no perfect. Everyone makes mistakes.”
Looking at things in a different perspective and learning to just stay positive and have fun can change a lot.
Both Salas and Arista said, “I’m most excited to make memories with the girls.”
The team has time to bond and connect with each other before league starts so their chemistry can help them dominate teams.
