Look up. Show up. Build up. These are the three guiding statements for the Harding softball team. We thank God for this sport we play. We show up to practice and give it our all. Finally, we build up from the previous day and work to get better. It is important to remember this, especially after a tough weekend of games.
We began conference play last weekend and lost four times to Southern Arkansas in Magnolia. While it wasn’t the way we wanted to start conference play, we learned a lot about ourselves and where we need to get better. Coach Phil Berry challenged us to learn from those games but also to move on and look forward to this next weekend against East Central. With 40 conference games to go, this past weekend does not define how the rest of conference play or our season will go. It’s only the beginning of our journey.
One pitch at a time — that’s what Harding softball is going to focus on for the rest of the season. One pitch, one game, one series at a time. We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves. Coach Berry always stresses the importance of focusing on the process rather than the outcomes. It’s about doing things the right way and giving ourselves the best chance for success.
This group we have is so special and so talented. We still have a lot of ball games left to play, and we are going to enjoy every moment that we get with each other. I’ve even started to keep a journal to remember the special moments that happen this season. Harding softball will always hold a special place in my heart. I have grown not only as a player, but as a woman in Christ. I have my teammates and coaches to thank for that.
As a senior, this season just means more to me. We have five seniors: Katie Carney, Lindsey Duncan, Aidan Nichols, Mary Mills Lochala and me. Each of us has been playing since we were about 6 years old. This has been our life for the last 15 years, and we are hoping to get all the way to a world series and win a national title. For us, this is it. This is our last time playing with this group of girls that we have and with these coaches. This is our last time to play a game that has been a part of our lives for so long. It is so bittersweet. Our identity has been rooted in softball, and we have to start thinking about what comes next. I have enjoyed my time as a Bison, and I can’t wait to see how the season unfolds.
