Team sets high expectations for upcoming season
According to Senior pitcher Ashley Wies, May 6, 2023, was for CSUDH Softball, “the longest day of [their] lives.” On that day the softball team won a California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) championship after two tight contests against Chico State University.
The first game ended 8-5 after nine innings. The second game was a nail-biter, ending when junior infielder Nayah Pola hit a walk-off homer in the 10th inning.
At the end of the contest, players were tired and hungry but still enjoyed the victory.
“We just earned a ring! We were happy and excited. We were happy for the seniors because it was their last game at home,” Weis said. Players and family members celebrated on the field and took photos with the trophy until sunset.
A week later, the Toros faced Azusa Pacific University and CSU-San Marcos In the NCAA West Regionals Tournament. On May 11, the Toros defeated Azusa Pacific 1-0. On May 12, their season would conclude, after losing 0-5 to Cal State San Marcos and 4-5 in their second bout with Azusa Pacific.
Senior infielder Kaley Hull said not meeting expectations in this tournament was “disappointing and very frustrating.”
“Ultimately, this is a game of failure, and this is only gonna better us as a program and individually as players,” Hull said. “Because now we get to analyze ourselves and say, what do we need to work on over summer to make sure that this won’t happen again?”
The loss served not only as a point of reflection but also as motivation for the upcoming season.
“It lights a fire in your belly and gives you this tenacity to come back even stronger,” said senior pitcher Sara Bhatt. “I think that all the [returning players] who felt that disappointment in regionals will say that it’s a driving force in how we go into next season.”
Preparing for the upcoming season requires challenging two-hour practices from Monday through Friday characterized by constant pitching, hitting, and fielding. Beyond that, coaches, returning players, and staff make an effort to integrate new players into the team.
Returning players have a direct role in ensuring that new players feel welcome.
“This year we did a big sister, little sister [dynamic] where you have a connection with one of the new girls on the team,” said Wies. “You’re just there to answer any questions, be in contact with [them], you’re just there for them. That way, they don’t feel like an outcast.”
The team also created accountability groups over the summer, where players were placed in group chats to share different ways they were preparing for the upcoming season.
“We would send selfies of us like running on the treadmill, or throwing a bullpen, whatever we did that day to get better,” said Bhatt of these group chats. “I found that it was really fun to see everybody’s pictures, and it was not super serious.” These chats helped entering a new program less daunting for incoming players.
The program requires a tremendous commitment from players. Furthermore there is a culture that provides a clear order of priorities that ensure player’s are treated like people: God and Faith, Family, Academics, and Softball.
The importance of family is affirmed by the role families play in supporting the team. They make lunches for players, provide water and gatorade, and travel with players to away games.
“We have parent meetings, we give them the hotels, we demand that they come to [team] meals with us, take over restaurants, everything is done as a family, ” said head coach James Maier.
