Softball Talk Heats Up
Holly Carter
Issue date: 2/1/10 Section: Sports
"Winning isn't everything, but the will to win is."
This Vince Lombardi quote was Head Coach Beth Jackson's quote of the day last Tuesday as the 19 Lady Reddies Softball Players took the field. Each day the practice schedule is posted in their dugout along with a daily quote to motivate them through practice. The team is coming off a 20-34 season, and the players are less than a week away from opening day of the 2010 season.
"The preseason polls are out, and we're ranked fifth," junior pitcher Britney Benedict
said. "But we're better than that."
The team has six returning
starters, and the other 13 girls are newcomers.
"They are a great group of girls," Jackson said. "They are very versatile, and we have some strong leaders."
The girls have been practicing
together five days a week since August, and their training has expanded outside
the fence of the softball diamond.
"Our practices have included
running, weights and even swimming," said sophomore pitcher Melissa Decker. "We are so ready to get on the field and let all of the hard work pay off."
Of the 19 Lady Reddies, there are nine freshmen, as opposed to the one senior on the roster. Having such a young team means that the team is unfamiliar with each other, giving the players a lot to work on.
"We really have a lot more talent than we expected with such a young team," said Jackson. "The team is working
hard and getting better and stronger every single day."
It will not be an easy road for the Reddies. The team is playing several ranked teams, making their schedule
tough and competitive.
"There is no limit for this team," said Benedict. "We all work so well together and complement each other. The sky is really the limit for us."
Decker, one of the five Lady Reddies pitchers, has a lot on her mind for her team to accomplish this season. "Our defense is solid, and our pitching staff is pretty deep," Decker said. "I expect us to be great offensively because we have some great hitters in the lineup. As long as we keep our heads in the game, we can be unbeatable."
This Vince Lombardi quote was Head Coach Beth Jackson's quote of the day last Tuesday as the 19 Lady Reddies Softball Players took the field. Each day the practice schedule is posted in their dugout along with a daily quote to motivate them through practice. The team is coming off a 20-34 season, and the players are less than a week away from opening day of the 2010 season.
"The preseason polls are out, and we're ranked fifth," junior pitcher Britney Benedict
said. "But we're better than that."
The team has six returning
starters, and the other 13 girls are newcomers.
"They are a great group of girls," Jackson said. "They are very versatile, and we have some strong leaders."
The girls have been practicing
together five days a week since August, and their training has expanded outside
the fence of the softball diamond.
"Our practices have included
running, weights and even swimming," said sophomore pitcher Melissa Decker. "We are so ready to get on the field and let all of the hard work pay off."
Of the 19 Lady Reddies, there are nine freshmen, as opposed to the one senior on the roster. Having such a young team means that the team is unfamiliar with each other, giving the players a lot to work on.
"We really have a lot more talent than we expected with such a young team," said Jackson. "The team is working
hard and getting better and stronger every single day."
It will not be an easy road for the Reddies. The team is playing several ranked teams, making their schedule
tough and competitive.
"There is no limit for this team," said Benedict. "We all work so well together and complement each other. The sky is really the limit for us."
Decker, one of the five Lady Reddies pitchers, has a lot on her mind for her team to accomplish this season. "Our defense is solid, and our pitching staff is pretty deep," Decker said. "I expect us to be great offensively because we have some great hitters in the lineup. As long as we keep our heads in the game, we can be unbeatable."
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