Girls on the varsity softball team have talked about the complications of playing on the gym floor compared to the sand. Many girls noted that the gym floor doesn’t give the same game-like scenarios as you would get on the fields and turf. It was tricky for several reasons, mainly because the gym floor hurts a lot more. As a softball player, you’re sometimes required to dive for balls and slide into bases; however, with the girls having to practice it on the gym floors, it’s a lot more complex and results in more bruises.
Varsity softball got to go to the Eden Prairie domes this past week and experience turf for the first time this season. “It’s a lot different from the gym, especially with all the room there is,” Ramsey Hopp said. The gym not being the same size as a field and sharing it with all the teams can restrict a lot of movement and possible play opportunities. It is also challenging to get all of our tasks and goals done within the practice because we are limited. “The bounce is so hard to read, so you have to be ready for everything and anything all the time,” Kenzie Enter said. With softball having to use softer balls on the gym floor, it makes reading the bounce on the hop a lot more complicated. It’s hard to read if it keeps bouncing high or loses its bounce on a hop because of a dead spot on the floor or if it just hits the laces right.
State was the main topic when discussing the team’s goals for this upcoming season. The softball team is very driven and wants to succeed and go far. There are four seniors, and they are reaching for the same thing, state.
The picture is from sections last year. The Eagles took on Le Seur Henderson and went into extra innings, but they ended with one run short. The Eagles are driven and set on doing everything they can to get to state. With their goals being discussed, the Eagles can’t wait to return to the fields to get live reps.
With the weather warming up and snowing again, the fields could be damaged by climate change. However, the girls are prepared to rake and lay sand down to get to practice. “We are ready to hang up the tennis shoes and put on the cleats for the season,” Addi Hauge said. With inside practice, tennis shoes are needed so the gym floor doesn’t get ruined. However, when the girls return to the field, it can take a little bit to adjust to the metal cleats rather than tennis shoes.
Another complication was the lighting. The gym lighting can be very harsh on the eye, especially when practicing for 3 hours straight. The eyes don’t get a break. “Sun balls are always good to practice because no one likes them, but they happen a lot, and we outfielders need to be prepared,” said Maddie Backer.
The Eagles softball team is ready to get outside and take live game-like reps to prepare for their upcoming game against Eden Prairie. They are ready to dive into the season and work toward their goals.
