The Lady Bisons’ softball team will close out their non-championship segment of practice this fall next Wednesday, Oct. 30. Throughout the fall semester, the team has practiced and scrimmaged to prepare for their official season that will begin in the spring.
“This fall has actually gone really well,” junior pitcher Amber Rollins said. “We have been working really hard. It looks like we are going to be set pretty well heading into the spring.”
This 45-day period is when teams are allowed to practice 20 hours a week and have three outside exhibition games. After this duration of time, teams are only allowed to practice eight hours a week and six of those hours have to be conditioning.
According to Rollins, the time between now and Christmas break will be individual workouts, where players will condition and work on their skill development on their own time.
Mollie Mitchell and Whitney Kiihnl have been hired or volunteered their time to be a part of the softball coaching staff. Both are graduates of Lipscomb University where they played for the NCAA Division I softball team. While at Lipscomb, Mitchell caught for Kiihnl who was the Atlantic Sun Conference Player and Pitcher of the Year.
Rollins said both Mitchell and Kiihnl have been a great asset to the team so far. Mitchell works with the catchers, outfielders and hitters. Kiihnl is mainly focused on pitchers, but also works with the outfielders.
“They have brought their competitiveness, toughness and maturity to our team,” head coach Phil Berry said. “The best thing about them is that they are both godly women. They have set great examples for our players in terms of getting this program off the ground.”
Once the team returns from Christmas break, it will be crunch time as they will have three weeks of practice then head straight into their season in the beginning of February.
According to Berry, the team’s chemistry has brought the girls closer together and that has led to success on and off the field. The Lady Bisons regularly have dinners and devotionals together as a team.
“The chemistry between us seems like we have been playing together for years,” sophomore Kristen Lester said. “Everyone is so encouraging and optimistic. Practices always have so much energy.”
The team will begin their season Feb. 7-9 at the Southeastern Oklahoma State Tournament in Durant, Okla. The Lady Bisons will then begin conference play at home against Southern Nazarene University on Feb. 21 and 22.
“We are looking forward to having students come out and support us in the spring,” Berry said.
