D3 Lives Matter: From Early Mornings to First Pitch

It is a new week, which means new stories. Since the last update, we have had one of our final practices and a doubleheader scrimmage against Manchester. We also leave for Florida on Friday, and our first official game is in less than a week. It is exciting, but it also makes everything feel real. Preseason is no longer just about preparing. It is about proving that we are ready, and proving who is ready to be a starter.

Friday's practices were one of our last intense ones before we leave, and it was not even close to our best. You could see it in everyone's faces. The energy was low. The sharpness was missing. The 6 a.m. practices throughout the week had finally caught up to us. There is something about stacking early mornings on top of classes, lifts, and long days that slowly drains you. By Friday, it showed.

Our coach was not pleased, and she made that clear. There were several punishments throughout practice. At the moment, it felt frustrating because we were already exhausted. But the standard does not lower because we are tired. That practice was a reminder that during the season, we are going to feel the same fatigue. There will be games, travel and academic responsibilities all at once. Preseason is where we learn how to respond when we do not feel our best. Friday tested our mental toughness more than our physical ability.

Saturday gave us a chance to reset. We had to be at the field at 10 a.m., and the scrimmage started at noon. The intensity during warmups felt different from the day before. There was more focus and better communication. The first game had a strong pace with no long innings. I played the last three innings and felt solid behind the plate. I was able to steal a good number of strikes for our pitcher, which always feels rewarding because it helps the entire team. We shut Manchester out in that first game.

After a short 20-minute break, we started the second game. It was a bit longer and slowed down with substitutions, but the energy stayed positive. Even when I was not on the field, I made it a priority to cheer loudly and stay engaged. That is part of being a good teammate. We shut them out again, which surprised me. Not because I thought we were incapable, but because I felt like our coach had mentally prepared us for a tougher outcome. But this showed how much growth has happened during the preseason.

While balancing practices and scrimmages, school does not pause. If anything, it feels sped up. Knowing we leave for Florida on Friday, I made it a goal to get ahead in most of my classes this week. I spent extra time finishing assignments, submitting work early, and organizing what I will need for our trip. It felt good walking into this week knowing I was not behind. That sense of preparation takes pressure off and allows me to focus more fully on softball when we leave. Being proactive academically is just as important as preparing physically.

Now the focus shifts to Florida. We only have three practices left before we leave. We have to be fully packed by Tuesday evening, which is more complicated than it sounds. I had to buy duplicates for necessities like toothpaste and hair wash because I still need them throughout the week, but they also have to be packed early. Our coach is driving all of our gear down on Wednesday to save us from paying luggage fees, which is very Division III.

As we head into this final stretch before games begin, I can feel the mix of nerves and excitement building. Everything we have done at 6 a.m., every tough practice and every moment of exhaustion, has been leading to this. Balancing school, softball and travel is not easy, but it is part of what makes this level special.