In previous years, the Edmond Memorial High School softball team has found tremendous success. Memorial’s pride for the softball team has only grown, with students showing up and showing out to support the team, especially during the OSSAA Fast Pitch Softball State Tournament. The team has qualified to attend state for many years and were extremely successful in 2022 by winning the title of state champions. Like most sports, the coaches and players have goals set for the season to make the team as successful as possible, and this current season is no different.
Head softball coach Kayla Carlsward has been coaching and teaching at EMHS for seven years. Before the season started, Carlsward made an overall goal of mastering the team’s performance by focusing on the smaller details of the sport. Carlsward anticipates the team being more successful during games
“We have been working on more of the little things when it comes to the game which helps the team rack up points,” Carlsward said.
Carlsward’s objective for the season is for both the junior varsity and varsity teams. The goal is supposed to motivate players for games and help them find a mindset to improve their performance. Freshman Brooklyn Hibton, a member of both the JV and varsity team, wants to create a tight-knit community among her teammates.
“I just think that overall we need to come together as a team,” Hibton said. “Hopefully we will win state, but we have do the little things before we get there”
Not only is the team determined to learn how to better their skills, but also how to stay focused during practices and games. Between the loud music, screaming parents and cheering from the crowd, it is easy to become distracted by the surrounding environment. Staying focused in the chaos of a game is crucial for the team’s performance. Junior Lucy Sipes, member of both the JV and varsity team, witnesses the players’ developments.
“I feel like I’ve seen myself improve a lot in my mental game as well as the other girls,” Sipes said.
As the players adjust to the new environment, Carlsward has noticed the team’s ability to bounce back from tough situations and make best with what they are given. Part of that mental focus the team has been learning about comes into play during the games, especially at the beginning.
“A challenge the teams have overcome is trying to stay successful when facing hard beginnings of games,” Carlsward said. “They have improved their ability to take their mistakes and move on with the game.”
So far the team has won 15 out of 26 games, with nine more left in the season before state. As the softball season continues for the EMHS softball team, they continue to strive for better games and statistics. Their determination to reach personal and overall goals pushes them to work hard and achieve much. Coaches and players alike are excited for their upcoming games and have an overall positive attitude about the rest of the season.
Contact Lauren Skinner at [email protected]