Settling Into the Heat, Humidity and Thunderstorms: Softball Blog #2
Redshirt senior outfielder Shelley Deadmond gives another update from the NCAA Softball Regional about Thursday's practice day and last night's natural fireworks.
The Ducks look ahead to their postseason opener vs. Auburn at 2:30 p.m. PT Friday, that will televised by ESPN2-HD and broadcast by OSN Radio by The Score (95.3 FM).
Saturday's and Sunday's games will be on ESPN-HD and KSCR (1320 AM).
It is the morning of day three here in Atlanta, i.e. game day!
As for the rest of yesterday, practice went well; everyone was on their hustle and it was clear that we were all mentally and physically just getting ready to take care of business. Our hitters looked great taking swings off of Coach White. In fact, recently announced Pac-10 Freshman of the Year, our own Samantha Pappas, (just ‘Papi’ to us,) was rocketing shots not over the playing field fence but the second one that actually borders the whole facility!
We did some game-like situations in which hitters needed to execute a certain strategy (i.e. fake bunt-hit, hitting behind the lead runner, etc.) and the defense played accordingly. I love that part of practice because it forces both aspects of our game to step it up and try to overcome the other, thus we make each other better by challenging one another.
After practice we ate at Jason’s Deli and witnessed our strength and conditioning coach, Coach Dillon, defeat the mighty “Muffaletta” sandwich in his own personal version of Man vs. Food. (This sandwich was so big they had to bring it out on two plates!!) We also put in our bid to the coaches to utilize the FREE soft serve machine there, only to be shamelessly refused by Coach Dodd, who is an admittedly unapologetic health-nut. Bummer!
We continued on to have a great evening including dinner at a local Italian food restaurant called Maggiano’s where Coach White and Senior Associate Athletic Director Renee Baumgartner joined after they finished with the pre-tournament coaches/administration meeting. Everyone was in good spirits and the food was great!
Moving on, the conversation at breakfast today centered around the lightning that illuminated the skyscrapers early this morning and the thunder showers that are expected for most of the day. We’re used to playing in the rain, that’s for sure, just not when it’s still 80 degrees out!
The weather will do what it will, we’re just ready to play!
Coach White is always reminding us to take care of what we can control; our attitude and our effort. We can’t control the weather, the umpires, or what the other teams’ strategy is, but we can control how we approach the game, and how we react to it. Coach also says that the team who is fastest to adjust to the circumstances of the game is most likely to win.
That said, we are preparing to go out there tonight and put in our very best effort while sporting our most positive attitude and outlook, no matter what happens. That’s what we can control, and by all means, we mean to take control.
Be sure to check us out tonight on ESPN2 at 2:30 (West Coast time) as we play the regional opener vs. Auburn and show them what the Ducks and Pac-10 softball is all about!
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