After the heartbreak of losing in the district final last year, the Yutan-Mead Patriots softball team is looking for a new opportunity to not only qualify this year but make it all the way to the championship.
“My end-of-season goal for this team is to place in the top 4 at state. Truthfully, I believe we have the talent and drive to be in the championship games at Bowlin Stadium. This, however, will be determined 100 percent on what these girls want to put into the last part of their season,” head softball coach Brooke Campbell said.
In order to make it to state, the team has focused on giving their full effort in practice, games and at school.
“We practice or have games six days a week, and we’re always working hard. No matter what, we just work really well together and make sure when we have time together that we’re putting in 100 percent effort,” senior Jenna Trent said.
The team also makes sure to reinforce the skills they need to compete at a high level.
Siske had seven strikeouts this game. (Halle Arlt)
“We do so many drills every day that help the girls improve their skills. This game is not a matter of high-level ability but continuing to do the things that are necessary every day,” Campbell said.
Small errors can change the entire game, which causes losses. One specific area the team is looking to improve in is scoring earlier in the game rather than waiting until the last few innings.
“We do a really bad job of not scoring early because we have a tendency to only score in the last few innings, which tends to make closer games and they shouldn’t be,” junior Leah Thompson said.
Despite the challenges, the players are looking to achieve success at whatever cost it takes.
“My mindset was definitely like, we’re doing it. It didn’t matter what, but I knew we had the potential to be great,” Trent said.
During the season each of the players had some highlights from every game. Every tournament the team has placed in one of the top three teams. The team has also collectively hit around ten over-the-fence home runs this season. Even some of the losses have felt like successes because of how the team played.
“Our biggest moment is probably not beating Neumann but coming close to beating them. This was a big moment because it shows what we’re
capable of,” Thompson said.
All of these girls strive to be great players and great teammates. No matter the situation the team is in, they will always stick by each other’s
sides. Hanging out outside of softball helps build this bond with the team.
“I like that we all hang out outside of softball. I think that it improves our physical attributes. We are very close, like a family, and I think that’s better because we all feel so comfortable,” Thompson said.
Regardless of how the season ends, this tight bond is something the players will appreciate the most.
“My favorite part of the season has just been the community that we’ve built and how close the whole team is. Not just upperclassmen, not just the varsity players, but everybody works so well together, and it doesn’t matter who you are, but you know you can trust somebody and you have a friend on the team,” Trent said.
