Julie Ryan/Collegian
Senior Abby Daubenmire bats during softball practice on the football field.
Julie Ryan/Collegian
Sprinting is part of the warm up for the Charger softball players.
The baseball and softball offices at the Roche Sports Complex were busy with people coming in and out yesterday. Head coach Sunny Jones and assistant coach Amy Paling, were inside at their desks—members of the Charger softball team trickled in before practice, asking questions, joking around and handing papers in to Jones.
I sat down in a chair as Jones and Paling discussed how the practice would run to another associate who had just walked in. They were planning on doing a complex practice in which the girls would rotate from station to station, doing different drills. Paling realized that it sounded confusing to somebody who hadn’t heard it before and tried to help me out.
“We like to keep things interesting and creative here,” Paling said.
Jones and Paling walked down to the football field where the baseball, track and softball teams where sharing space. The softball team was already out on the field, working together as a team. The pitchers and catchers were warming up and the fielders were stretching and doing drills. Even without the coaches there, the girls knew they needed to get to work.
Jones brought the atmosphere of the team with her as she stepped onto the field: focused, but relaxed and ready to have fun.
The team came together after warming up and Jones explained how practice would run. Everyone was excited because they were outside, in the sunshine, for one of the first times this semester. The atmosphere was light before the girls set to work: They joked, talked about their day and classes, and surprised Jones with a card. To add to their excitement, the team was anticipating a trip to Tampa, Fla. for their first few games.
Jones pitched to each of the girls and let them hit, giving advice and coaching them with their batting stance and swing. I had been expecting to see the coach walking around, yelling at the girls, telling them to work harder and figure out their problems. Jones was the exact opposite. The girls knew that she would coach them and show them how to improve, and she did. Jones would demonstrate how to fix their problems.
When the girls finished working in rotations, the team came together, assumed positions and Coach hit to them, shouting out instructions.
This was the best part of the practice to watch as the girls came together and worked as a team. They encouraged each other with a constant yelling of “Good job!” and “We’re going to Florida!”
The only time Jones got severe with the girls was when one girl did not try her hardest to catch a ball.
“I know we’re excited about our first game in four days, and we’re trying to have fun and relax, but that’s no excuse for not catching balls like that,” Jones said. “We need to stay focused.”
When practice was over, the team carried in their equipment and met in the gymnasium. Jones and Paling explained to the girls the plans for Florida and what they would be doing. And after that practice, I think they are going to Florida to win their first games.