Diary of a Softball Player

#21

“When I step into the batter’s box, the fans, the noise, the cheers, they all disappear. For that moment, the world isjust a battle between me and the pitcher. And more than anything, I want towin.”

Mary W., Second base, California

Feb 20, 201334 notes

#softball #love #quote

#20

“It’s not about the seedings, it’s not about the bats. It’s about these 18 young ladies on each team and how bad they want to win.”

Ralph Weekly, Coach, Univ. of Tennessee

Feb 20, 20134 notes

#19

“We’re going to step on the field knowing tht eveyr team we’re going against is going to push teir game to that whole new level that we probably hadn’t seen. We’ve just got to be ready to step up with them.”

Crystl Bustos, third base, Team USA

Feb 20, 20133 notes

#18

“Go hard every play. You don’t want to leave anything behind and regret it years down the road that you didn’t give it all when you could have.”

Ashley DeBuhr, pitcher, Univ. of Nebraska

Feb 20, 20139 notes

#17

“We’re prepared, and we’ve done everything we can to prepare for this moment in time. That’s what confidence is all about”

Lisa Fernandez, pitcher, Team USA

Feb 20, 20133 notes

#softball #love #play #great

Why?

Early mornings,

Dew soaked shoes,

Sticky afternoons,

Sweat,

Dust in your face,

Rain,

Wind…

Never enough sleep,

Long boring rides,

Giving it your best and still coming up short,

Because time slows down,

Everything you do is right,

You and your teammates find rhythm,

the bliss of cold water,

Good nachos and cheering,

Your score keeps climbing,

You suddenly notice your laughing and love what your doing,

You wonder why everybody,

Everywhere isn’t playing

Everyday that they can.

Feb 20, 20137 notes

A Ball Players Prayer

God grant me the wisdom,

to tell a strike from a ball,

to kow where to throw,

and never to fall.

Keep me always in the base line,

running straight and true,

and I’ll look for your sign,

to stretch one into two.

God give me the vision,

to see every pitch,

so if a player needs help,

then I will see which.

Let me always hustle,

so I’ll be at my best,

and take pride in myself,

in sports and the rest.

God be my strength,

so I’ll be at my best,

and take pride in myself,

in sports and the rest.

So I will never miss a base,

please guide my feet,

bring me home safely,

so my job is complete.

When I help younger players,

let me always give praise,

so they’ll see you in me,

in all of my ways.

God please guide our coach,

to be fair and smart,

to teach us to be good,

let it come from his heart.

Let me take a loss,

just as well as a win,

to do any less,

is surely a sin.

As long as I can play,

let me make my parents proud,

as proud as I am,

when they yell my name out loud.

However my games end,

let me always have fun,

and if Heaven has All Stars,

I want to be one.

When my games here are over,

and all my seasons are down,

let me play on your team,

jus like your son.

Amen.

Feb 20, 201331 notes

#softball #prayer #love #cute

Feb 19, 2013182,827 notes

No problem! I realized you weren't getting a lot of things like this so yay! :D Do you have a playlist of songs you listen to to help you get pumped up before a game or do you prefer as much silence as possible? I understand EXACTLY what you mean! I help out with a lot of younger players when I can. Our local ASA group (rec ball) is falling apart pretty badly right now and a lot of the good coaches have left.

Personally, I just sit in silence before a game. I don’t really get pumped…. I just laugh and joke around with my teammates before a game and usually a happy me players better than a really serious me… that kinda just me.. i know a lot of people don’t work that way.

Me and my dad are actually starting to bring up a kindergarten team in my town. Most of the rec league has fallen apart but we are planning on taking this team up as they grow up and coaching them through travel and stuff and I am so excited! The town asked us because they know how much me and my dad get involved in the sport and we have a field in our backyard so we just hold some practices there… less worry for the town. I hope you town can find some good coaches! Every girl deserves a chance to play this game… even if you don’t get the best coach.

Heyy! I love your blog! You are so helpful to so many people on here and I just wanted to tell you that you are awesome!

Awww, thank you! That means so much!

I love helping people with softball stuff seeing as I want to be a coach when I’m older! I learn new things while I’m trying to help other girls achieve the goals that I once had (:

What are some exercises you do for softball? I've been working out with my big brother to try to get somewhat in shape again, but he's more about the 'lets lift weight forever!!' Thing. I can curl a 25 pound weight but I am still not able to run for extended periods of time/really fast and it hurts to stay in a catcher's stance. My legs are killing me!

So for running:

Do interval training, walk for a minute then run for two.. then as you get more comfortable start to run for longer. This will build up your stanima and you will be able to run for longer. To get faster you do th same thing. Sprint for a minute and then jog for a minute. That kind of thing.

For your legs:

Do some lunges when your bored. Just kind of do them all the time and eventually your legs will become stronger and they won’t hurt as much. Do some wall sits.. they work your core and your legs. When your watching tv, get into your catchers stance… stay in it for as long as you can and try to stay in it longer and longer as you keep doing it.

WORK YOUR CORE!!

Core work is the center for softball. Everything you do kind of comes out from having a strong core. Do some sit ups… BORING. But do the wall sits and do some planks… stretch out the time until you can do them in your sleep. Do some swimmers… look them up on the internet.. we always do then after our games.

Hope this helps! Good luck with your season!

How should I tell my traveling team that I can't play for them this year? I found a club team that will give me more opportunities, that I love! I just need to tell my traveling team that I can't play with them.. Any advice?

Of course,

I think you should send out an email to everyone on the team. If you do it in person it can get reallyyyyy awkward reallyyyyy fast. I mean people say thats best, but I have come to realize that email is the best way, get every one in one shot.

So in the email say something along the lines of this.

I have had a great time with you guys but it is time for me to move on. There is another team that I have been looking at and it seems like a better fit for me. I am very greatful for all the experiences I have had with you guys, but this is the best decision for me as a player. It has more opportunities that I want to take.

Emphasize the fact that is a better change for YOU. That it’s about the big picture as a softball player and that you need to take this opportunity in order to achieve your goals.

Don’t be too worried. They will understand if you make sure you let them know that you loved the time spent with them. That this move isn’t abou them That it is about YOU and what is best for YOU.

Good luck with your new team! and good luck on your upcoming season!

Feb 18, 20131 note

Can’t wait to start coaching my kindergarten girls in a couple of months. They are the cutest thing on this planet (:

#softball #kindergarten #love #so cute

Do you play travel ball?

Yep, on a small team just out of my town. We disbanded this year because all of us are going to college next year left last year.

#Bats #softball #bat #hitting #love

BATS

To everyone who is messaging me about bats,

Bats are very relative. It’s all about what you like. I personally like a heavier bat and longer, but some people may not like that. As for brands… don’t get caught up in the brand names and what every one else has. It’s not going to do you any good. You have to keep trying bats and find the one that is a right fit for you. I’m not even gonna tell you what i use because truthfully its not gonna matter. I’m different from you. It’s like a glove… every one likes a different glove.

I wish I could be of more help, but its something you can’t do over the internet.

Feb 18, 20134 notes

What do you think about the 2013 Worth Storm Hyperlite? My bats are both 32" and I need to go up to a 33" or 34", gonna find out for sure before I buy one, but still looking at bats. I can swing heavier bats with no issue, but like the lighter bats better.

I don’t really know that bat, no one I have ever met has used it so I don’t really have an oppinion. But about going up a bat, if you like the bats you used to use, just get the same one, newer model, and then get the longer one… that’s the best advice I can give on a bat. Bats are VERY individual… it’s all about what You like.

Does it make you angry that everyone who is needing a light bat thinks the DeMarini CF5 Insane bat, is a good choice?! I'm a power hitter w/ 13 homeruns and I'm not ready for that yet.

truthfully, im not realy into the whole brand name bat thing. Different people like different things. I’m a power hitter as well, if you’re not ready for it, then don’t get it! haha. I personally don’t know anyone with that bad. Everyone on my team uses the Easton Stealth and we all hit really well. Sorry I can’t really help. try one and see if it seems like a good fit!

Sorry about that!

Anon, I keep 2 bats on me at all times. I have a worth powercell (really old. 22oz. 32in.) for warmup or what have you. I loved it when I was younger but I really hate it now. My newest baby is a worth prodigy that I got for like 30 bucks. The sticker got ripped off the end, but I think it's a 32 in. As well. A LOT lighter weight, though, and its helped me through many over-the-fence hits. Our local sporting goods store has a pitching machine in the back to try stuff out. Just look around.

Thats the same thing I do, I keep two bats with me because I tend to face so many different types of pitchers… I have the same exact bat (newer and older versions). Thats nifty that your sporting goods store has that but not many places have those so its just best that if you try out teammates bats first. If it’s your first bat EVER just buy one that you think would work best. Its a guessing game and its unfortunate that they cost so much! Sometimes you can get them cheaper used on the internet!

Thanks for the input!

To break in a glove, you can condition it, put a ball in it, tie it up, and drive over it with a car or leave it under your mattress for a while. With my new catchers mitt, we put some new type of conditioner on it and had the choice of soaking it or microwaving it. Microwaving seemed more fun. Or just use it a lot. I have no idea if lexol will work on a glove or what. If it will, go with that because that stuff is magic I swear.

yeah thats kind of the same precedure i mentioned before…

But thansk for the input!

Coach and parents are getting mad that not all the girls have a bat. /:

well personally i believe thats wrong… bats cost a shit ton of money and if its your last year you shouldn’t have to invest in a new bat, most colleges everyone uses the same bat… no one really uses their own, if you watch a couple of them…. but thats besides the point

Then use their bats in a couple of practices, see which one you like and then go out and get a new bat. Like i said, check out the pitching you will be facing.

Fast pitching = light bat

Slow pitching = heavier bat

(Don’t go too light or too heavy)

Just try out a couple of bats, you can’t take what anyone else says because every one likes their own kinds of bats. There have been bats that some people LOVE and I don’t like. So if anyone says that they love this one bat, try it out first because you may not like it all that much. It’s kind of just a guessing game and once you have found the right bat, you know the right weight you prefer and you know the length you prefer then go out and purchase your bat.

Well I used my friends DeMarini cf4. It is way too light for me compared to her Easton which is the same weight/length. I was looking at the 2013 Demarini hope or 2012 cf5 insane. Should I try those out or stick to an Easton bat?

Stick to what you know, if you loved your bat just get one similar to it, just keep trying, if its your last season … Don’t invest in a new bat, maybe you should just use someone else’s

I need help finding the perfect bat. This is my last year and the bat I normally use is dead and my coach never wants to see it again. I was looking into a Demarini cf5 insane, but I'm afraid that's it's going to be too light. Especially how they are designed.

NEVER BUY A BAT BEFORE YOU HAVE USED ONE BEFORE!

That’s the biggest key. If you buy a bat and you havn’t used one of your teammates one just like it before, then you can get it and hate it. Test out a couple bats with different lengths and weights for a while and then decide on which one you like the most. I use an Easton Stealth. Also look at the pitching you will be facing, if its fast pitching get a lighter bat (you can get it around faster) if its slower pitching get a heavier bat (it will help you not swing ahead and hit it to right field) just try a couple of bats before you purchase one.

Hope that helps!

What is the best way to break in a new glove?

Okay so this is how my dad broke in my glove,

Go out and get baseball glove conditioning oil. It softens, enriches, and preserves your glove. Then take a softball, put it in the glove (the end of the right or left side should fold into the opposing side)and tie it in with some string, when you leave it out in direct sunlight for only a few hours. Then take the ball out and shape your glove throw the ball into the glove several times. Then wrap the ball in the glove again and put it in a dark dry corner for a weekend. Then just take the ball out and you should be good to go.

It will take a while before it is exactly how you like it.

Hope this helps!