List of Tragic Events

There are moments in a season that no team expects, and for our softball team, this was one of them. As many of us have now learned, our new softball field was severely damaged after a recent storm. What made the situation even more difficult was how unexpected it was and how quickly everything changed. One day, we were practicing on our field, and the next, we were told we could not step on it at all.

The damage began after what seemed like a normal practice. As we always do when bad weather is expected, we took time to tarp the field to protect it from the incoming storm. The tarp was secured with tires, and for extra protection, our coach placed a Gator in the center to help hold everything down. At the time, it felt like we had done everything correctly. There is no reason to think the field would not be protected.

The next morning started like any other. I was at a social media workshop with my teammate Karlie when I noticed that my phone had several messages during a break. Some of the other teammates were saying that baseball players had seen the field and were claiming it was destroyed. According to them, the backstop was gone, and the tarp had ended up in our stands. At first, it was hard to believe. It did not seem possible that a single storm could cause that level of damage.

A few hours later, we received confirmation from our coach. She sent pictures of the field, and it was clear that the situation was serious. We were instructed not to touch anything until an insurance claim could be processed. More information would be shared at practice later that day.

At practice, we were given an update that was difficult to hear. It was very unlikely that we would be able to play on our field again this season. The best-case scenario is that we may be able to practice on it at some point, even though that is uncertain. All of our home games have now been moved to the University of Findlay. While we are still grateful to have a place to compete, it is not the same as playing on our own field.

We are still able to practice on community fields in Ada, which helps us stay prepared. Even so, it is hard to ignore the disappointment. Our field was new, and it was something we were all proud of. Losing it so suddenly has been difficult for the entire team.

What makes the situation even more frustrating is the comparison to the baseball field. Their field, which is scheduled to be torn down later this summer, had minimal damage aside from the press box. It is a reminder of how unpredictable situations like this can be.

Despite everything, our focus now is on adjusting and continuing the season. We may not have control over what happened, but we do have control over how we respond. This experience has challenged us, but it has also brought our team closer together as we move forward.