Swinging for the fences: NGU softball team working hard to make it a winning season
Trinity Adams, News and Feature Editor
NGU’s softball team is currently 14-10 in conference standings with a two-game winning streak. The team has four more games until they play in the conference tournament, and the team is hopeful of this season’s outcomes. Despite having a few games where Sarah Hall, head coach, knew performance could have been better, she is confident that they can fix their errors.
“Obviously, we dropped some high-scoring games that we probably should not have dropped, but this team can score a lot of runs, and we’re just hoping we get hot at the right time,” said Hall.
With four more games left until the girls play in the conference tournament, Hall explained that they are focusing on consistency and making small adjustments sooner in the game. She shared that the team has a good defense, but there are a few areas that the team is really focusing on during practices to help them progress through the remainder of the season.
“Our pitching has been inconsistent, but we have the tools. I think that’s what’s been frustrating, that we have all the tools, but it all just has to come together. It’s small things and the girls know that and I know that,” said Hall.
Hall shared that this is one of the best teams that she has gotten to coach during her time here at NGU. She credits much of that to the team dynamic and the family built over the school year. She shared that there have been many times when she has seen just how strong the bond is between the girls on the team, and although it might sound cliche, it is true.
“I just like being around them, so I just want to continue to soak up our time together. It’s bittersweet that it’s almost the end, but we want to end on a high note. I just enjoy practice, the games and them. I think they enjoy each other, so it’s really sweet to see,” Hall shared.
On April 5, shortstop Emily Blackwell hit her first collegiate home run. Coach Hall describes the moment as one of the perfect examples of the team dynamic. Blackwell isn’t supposed to hit home runs, but when she did, the dugout erupted in cheers and excitement.
“The team was so excited for her and I feel like that is what it’s all about. We are for each other. As a coach, it almost brought tears to my eyes, like she was so excited. I was so excited for her, but the team was so excited. That’s a feeling that’s hard to beat, and you can’t fake that,” Hall said.
“At the beginning of the season, Coach Hall used the word electric, and it kinda has been like that for me,” said freshman Ariana Day.
The team dynamic is something that is noticed and acknowledged by all the girls on the team, especially Day. She acknowledges that as a freshman she has actually gotten to play quite a bit and that is exciting since it is her first collegiate season. She admits it took a lot to get to where she is now and that the team put in a lot of work during fall conditioning to be in the shape that they are now.
With this being her first season, Day admitted to struggling a bit with imposter syndrome, knowing that she is on this team for a reason and is capable of performing under the pressure of this new arena. Her biggest struggle has been not letting herself get too stressed out with the pressures that can come with playing college sports.
“Realizing that you are playing college ball and it is definitely a different step than high school and travel ball, it’s a whole new level. Adjusting to that and not letting that take over my mind and telling myself that I am good enough to be here,” said Day.
This weekend was Day’s first week back since her concussion, but she felt prepared for it due to the love and support that she received from her team and coaches. Although Day was anxious to get back on the field, her coaches and teammates continued to check on her personal wellbeing and making sure that she felt ready and comfortable to get back on the field.
“I’ve been hurt, and with my concussion, a lot of girls have checked on me each and every day, and coaches have checked on me. Everyone made sure to make me feel like I was important. Nobody made me feel like ‘Oh, you need to get out there.’ Everyone wanted me to be back, but they were more like, ‘You need to be okay first.’”
Now that she is back on the field, she is ready to get back to work to help the team go into the conference stronger and better. She knows that the team works really hard on their own personal performance, as well as working together as a team to win games and score runs.
Day said, “Whenever we get out here [on the field], we all play together and work really well together. Everyone has their own role, and I think that everyone does a really good job of filling that role, so we can work together to win games and just be a good teammate too.”
