2011 Schedule
On the first Monday of each month, softball coach Julie Wright will provide insight into her program in a blog called, "Wright or Wrong: Inside the Mind of a Coach."
It seems simple enough. Run 60 feet, turn left three times and you get a point. Accrue more points than the other team at the end of the game and you get the WIN. The fact that it isn't that simple is what makes softball a strange and wonderful game.
Our game against UC Riverside is the perfect example of strange and wonderful. We have 5 errors, give up 16 hits, only 3 earned runs, get a grand slam and a 3-run homer - from a pitcher who just 1 week ago questioned her ability to hit at this level - and win the game 12-9. Like I said…strange and wonderful.
We are 13 games into this season with a 4-9 record. On paper we look like a team that is struggling. Our stats are average, although climbing. We are in the middle of playing an insanely tough schedule and we are on the fast track at “softball school”. But remember strange and wonderful? Come watch us play before you make any decisions based on what we look like on paper. We have finally figured out how to play hard. We are a team that drives our opponent and the opposing fans crazy, and…they have to respect us. We fall down and just when you think you got us, we stand up and call out your name. One more round. Now don't mistake it, we have not played as well as we will, and we have made our share of mistakes and poor choices, but if you saw us just 2 weekends ago and watched us over the last 3 days – you would be able to say you saw us grow up a little, right in front of your eyes.
When you see us on the field, you will be drawn in – you won't be able to help yourself. The team that sprints on and off the field, that laughs in the middle of an at bat right after a HUGE swing and miss, the team that will kick a ball in one instance and in the next pull off a brilliant double play to get out of the inning. You never know when we are going to just go off and pile the runs on, but you will anticipate it. You will watch Brittany (nickname “B”), Jessica (mainly referred to by her last name, Baca), and Terah (appropriately called “T”) take monster hacks at the plate and you will lean forward waiting to see the ball fly. You will love to cheer on Kandis (known as KC and who I refer to as “Grandma” because she has been here for 5 years!) as she drives off the mound and floats a change-up right by the batter… strike three! Our point play will catch your attention and you will wonder what that means and can you do it with us. Simply put, our team has character and you will WANT to root for us. You won't be able to help yourself.
Jessica and I have been waiting for the team's character to come through. We have known it for a while now, but the ladies are just realizing it. We have the best mix of personalities. From intensely competitive, to hilarious, to clueless, quick-witted (my assistant, Jessica, holds the record in this department), and serious (this one is all me, but I can't help but laugh at them constantly). When we emerge together and hit the field, it just seems to work. We all have roles, personality roles, and we never fail to fulfill them. We “get” each other and we work at our team chemistry.
We don't always get it right, but like everything we do we just keep moving forward and taking positive steps. One of the phrases I stress to them is “Seek progress, not perfection.” And we are definitely a team that is constantly seeking. Seeking to do it right no matter what the “it” is – everything from our softball knowledge to having fun while playing. Our character continues to emerge as we gain confidence together. The team has begun the process of raising their personal expectations and the expectations of each other, and believe me, this is no easy feat with girls (I know all of the men reading this blog are shaking their heads vigorously in agreement). If you are confused, let me clear it up for you… it is a rare occurrence for one woman to look at another woman and demand more from them. Jessica and I demand it of each other and the team on a daily basis and it is working!
Raising expectations of ourselves, each other, and the program is a process that started the day I became a Bengal. The path that led us to this past weekend is called the Set 6. The Set 6 is a list of principles I use to guide this team. They are: (1) Do the right thing. My dad used to tell me if you have to think twice about it, you probably shouldn't be doing it. (2) Be honest. Lack of honesty is an indication that the person you are lying to cannot handle the truth. I tell the ladies I can always handle the truth. (3) Take responsibility of yourself and your actions. Kids today have too many excuses in my opinion. Everyone makes mistakes so handle it and move forward. (4) Be disciplined in your preparation. Without the discipline to prepare for it, success is pretty hard to come by. (5) Be competitive. Compete, compete, compete! I must say this a thousand times a day. (6) Respect yourself, respect your teammates, and respect the game. If you cannot treat yourself well, you cannot treat others around you well and, as much as the game has given us, we certainly should be able to give back. The Set 6 is our bible and I encourage the team to apply it to their everyday lives as people and student-athletes.
A great mentor of mine is the Head Soccer Coach at Wisconsin, Paula Wilkins. A few months ago she gave me great advice. She reminded me that the team was a work-in-progress and if I could get them to buy into that, we would take strides forward. Considering she is a proven winner, I followed that exact advice. She couldn't have been more correct. As evidence, we took the field this past Saturday against #4 Arizona. If you have never been to one of their games, let me educate you. The place is packed with at least 1,000 fans. They are a rowdy bunch and have no mercy on the team taking on their Cats. The announcer even gets in on it with phrases like “That's another whiff” when the opposing batter strikes out. As Desirae stepped to the plate in the first inning, their crowd was anticipating a blow-out. What they got were 3 runs on the board scored by us. They didn't utter a peep the rest of the game. We lost the game 5-3, but we played to win and had chances to do so. We are a definite work in progress.
The little team from Pocatello seems to have found its voice and it is our mission to be heard.
Until next time…
Julie
Past Blogs
Feb. 7, 2011
Jan. 3, 2011
Dec. 21, 2010
2011 Idaho State Softball Roster
1 Jennifer Martensen IF
2 Ashley Moeller IF
4 Brittany Olsin OF/C
5 Jessica Baca IF
6 Erin Olander IF/OF
9 Katee Wiley IF
10 Amanda Fitzsimmons P/IF
11 Haylee Thompson-Brock OF
12 Katie Rooks OF
15 Christina Rayner P
17 Courtney Darby IF/P
18 Terah Blackwell C
19 Kandis Clesson P
22 Courtney Hancock IF/UT
23 Courtney Dial OF
32 Desirae Hoffman OF
