By: Reed Blaszczyk
With a new team stronger and more connected than they have ever been, softball players said they are excited to get their season underway.
“We have been lifting and practicing really hard all semester. We have also continued to build our mental strength, which has given us different ways to approach situations,” junior Emily O’Dee said.
With opening day on Feb. 9, the team transitions from a shorter week of lifts and practice to longer hours in the gym as well as on the field.
“We are approaching the season, so we are transitioning from four days a week to just two, but it has been good because we have added in extra practices,” sophomore outfielder Madison Davis said.
Athletes spend countless hours and days in the gym as well as on their field preparing. Many of the teams train at Louisville Slugger Hitting Science Center, but members call this place “Norton” for short.
The team uses many exercises to produce more explosiveness: weighted box jumps, medicine ball throws and heavy deadlifts help the softball team get the most out of their workouts.
“We all do a really good job in the gym pushing each other and making the most out of what we have with our trainers at Norton,” Davis said.
The softball team also added a new assistant coach this year, Paige Murphy. She joined the softball team after serving head coach at Assumption High School for two years. She also played college softball at Eastern Kentucky University and earned Ohio valley Conference Player of the Year, National Fastpitch Coaches Association Third Team All-America honors, and the OVC’s overall female Athlete of the Year.
“We have a new assistant this year who has helped me so much with hitting. We really struggled producing runs so hopefully this year we can get some things going,” senior Caitlyn Watson said.
With it being closer to the season, the team is now allowed to spend more time out on the field.
“Our practices are pretty consistent. We do very similar things, but we do switch it up to cover all of our bases. We are moving into 20 hours a week now since we are in pre-season,” sophomore pitcher Elli Jensen said.
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