By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University softball team battled through a variety of issues outside of their control to practice this fall. There were the limitations and protocols resulting from COVID-19. There were multiple days in a row when smoke from wildfires prevented the team from practicing at the WU Softball Field or indoors at Cone Field House.
"Our two words for the fall were 'thankful' and 'thoughtful'," said Willamette Head Softball Coach Paige Hall. "We focused on how we were treating one another, especially in such a hard time with 2020 being so uncertain. There's been a lot of change just in these past four months of being on campus with the fires, COVID and the election. We wanted to create a place where the team could come and escape from the madness."
Just having an opportunity to practice was a great thing for the softball coaches and players.
"We had a general focus this fall on being thankful for what we get to do instead of focusing on what we don't get to do," Hall said. "We felt really lucky to even have a fall season and to be able to practice together."
Part of the team's success was simply taking time to meet as a group -- with masks and social distancing -- to discuss various issues while supporting each other.
"At the end of every Thursday practice, we sat down as a team and gave the girls an opportunity to acknowledge somebody who helped make them better that week," Hall siad. "We talked a lot about serving our teammates and how you can help your teammates get better before helping yourself."
During practice sessions, the players works in a total of four pods. Each pod represented a position or similar positions on the team, such as infielders, outfielders, pitchers, or catchers. The coaches structured practices so that most of the offensive and defensive drills were completed within the pods. While maintaining social distance, the team ended each practice with a fun competition.
"I saw a lot of growth this fall with our fundamentals and mental mindset," Hall said. "I think it was challenging this summer with everything being shut down, and then the fires at the start of the school year, for the team to get much work in. When we started to slow down and trusted what we knew, we could see the confidence build and our skill grow."
Team members Kaitlyn Wells (Sr., C, Happy Valley, OR/Clackamas HS) and Amber Griffith (Jr., UT, Brush Prairie, WA/Hockinson HS) agreed with Hall that the team overcame the obstacles it faced and completed successful practices this fall.
"The amount of improvement we had and the way we were able to work cohesively during a fall season that was so challenging gives me so much hope for us in the spring," Wells siad. "I'm excited to see what we can all do when we are able to be fully together again!"
"Despite the challenges of a socially distanced fall, I think we gained team unity," Griffith commented. "Everyone worked so hard and improved so much throughout the fall! I know this team can do great things and I can't wait to see what we can accomplish in the spring."
