Once a Pioneer, Always a Pioneer!

My passion for softball has always been questioned throughout my career. “It’s only a game,” I’d always hear from friends, teachers, and even some of my family. I knew that no one would ever understand how committed I was to the sport, but it never stopped me from playing. The thought of it ever ending honestly never crossed my mind. Now that I am writing this blog, only hours after the final at-bat of my life, I truly wish I had prepared myself more for this. I cannot promise to keep this entry short, but my hope is to make it worth reading—and maybe even suggesting for others to read as well. I have absolutely loved every opportunity I’ve had to share my senior year with the rest of Pioneer Nation through this blog, and I am so sad that this is the last time I will ever have that privilege. So, as I was saying…

My journey to MidAmerica has been one most people would consider ridiculous, and maybe even “not worth it.” Those people are the ones I hope read this blog the most. I had the opportunity to play for Coach Babs immediately following my sophomore season at Neosho County Community College in 2008, but allowed several outside factors to sway me a different way: returning home to Oklahoma and giving up my last 2 seasons of collegiate softball eligibility. Life without softball was ridiculously challenging, for I found myself faced with constant reminders of the player I could have become, the dream I let go of, and the years of dedication that seemingly added up to nothing. I had lost any and all hope once I realized I was in fact never going to step between the white lines again, but God had other plans. Coach Babs contacted me 18 months after my junior college career had ended, and simply asked if I wanted a second chance to return to softball. One semester away from earning my degree in English Education, and away from any and all softball related activities for over a year, I didn’t even hesitate to accept his offer. As most would say, the rest is history. My point in saying all of that, however, is that this was literally the senior year I never thought I would have. Had Babs considered anyone else over me, and contacted her, I may not have dropped my life to finish my dream here at MNU. I may not have been blessed to receive All-American honors as a junior, and be a part of two National Tournament squads. The last two years of my life would not have been what they were had it not been for him simply remembering my name. I will never say that I regret giving up softball back in 2008: a blessing in disguise, so to speak.

Words can never replace the memories I have shared with my teammates not just this season but last year as well. I will never forget the history we made, the records we broke, the tears we cried, or the smiles we induced. I cannot thank each and every one of them enough for the support they provide not just on the field, but in our everyday lives as human beings. Sometimes we forget that there are in fact bigger things in life than striking out with the bases loaded or making an error to prolong an inning. When my grandmother passed away the morning of our game against Graceland University, I was overwhelmed with love and condolences from everyone before, during, and after the game. When I cried after striking out to end the game, our season, and my fellow seniors’ careers tonight, they made sure I knew that I wasn’t crying alone. The best teams are those with the fondest memories outside the lines. How blessed I am to have people who have made saying, “good-bye” so, so hard.

I’m not quite done yet…

As I mentioned earlier, without Babs’ generous offer to give me a second chance at becoming a Pioneer, my days at MNU would be nonexistent. But without Coach Juber, who made the boring drive to Chanute, Kansas to watch my junior college get run-ruled, I doubt Babs would have ever even considered contacting me. Needless to say, God’s timing never failed, and everything fell into place perfectly. Coach Mac has been my emotional rock since Day 1, and I truly believe she never receives the credit she so rightfully deserves for that. I will always refer to Jackie as “the miracle worker,” as she put up with me so much last year with a stupid calf injury. Hopefully I am done for good with crutches, ace wraps, and MRIs. These people have become my friends. They have believed in me every second since I stepped on campus. I know that I never fulfilled every expectation each of them had for me as a player, but I am grateful that they had more faith in me than I could have ever had in myself. Knowing they wanted me to succeed meant everything to me, and I will be eternally appreciative of everything these four have provided me in the short amount of time I have known them.

I want to take the rest of this space to thank my mom and dad for supporting every decision I have ever made in my life. I am unbelievably lucky to have had them there in the stands the past several weeks to see me play. Chad Jenkins and Brett Stillman have been amazing all season long. The hours they devote to MNU Athletics is unreal. I want to thank them for journeying to Alabama with us, and for helping our families stay connected to our games via KMNU, live stats, and video streaming. Dennis Troyer and Lisa Downs—our honorary coaches in my opinion. They do more for us than people give them credit for. I will miss DT’s presence through the loud speakers at our home games, and I am so blessed to have gotten to know Lisa this season as she acted as our Team Chaplain. Brady Braatz was amazing all year helping guide our small group discussions, and Jim Smith went out of his way to provide us with pictures to cherish for the rest of our lives. I cannot end this blog without mentioning all of the families and professors who went above and beyond their duties as fans—the Salter Clan, Alexis’ grandmother’s amazing pastries, Lynsey and Keeley’s dads for making our field look great, Coach Rodden for getting us stronger and quicker, and making us sore in places we never even knew existed, Mike Goff and Kelvin St. John for being our most valuable fans, every family that cooked or paid for a meal this season, my mom and dad for providing money to fund our Cancer Awareness uniforms, our redshirts Laura, Moe, and Britt for their continued support throughout the season, and most importantly, every member of Pioneer Nation. Without the love and support we received from everyone, our season is not nearly as fun to remember. It goes without saying that we love each and every one of you. Thank you for everything!!

Almost done…

Like I said in the beginning, softball has never just been a game to me. For 17 years, it has been all I’ve known, all I’ve cared about, all I’ve ever really wanted to do. As of May 21, 2011, everything I’ve done on the field no longer means what it once did. There is nowhere left for me to go. Believe me, if there was, I’d be the first one to sign up. What I want to believe is that my career didn’t end; I just ran out of time. I can always pick up a glove and play catch with someone. Nothing will ever stop me from taking some cuts in the batting cage. The sport doesn’t leave me just because my time is up. It doesn’t make the pain lessen any, though. I know that I will cry more tears at the thought of tonight’s loss to Cal. Baptist, and the many games I have played in years past. It wouldn’t be so hard to let it go if it was only just a game. Softball has become a part of who I am, almost like a definition of me. I am now left with an identity crisis, so to speak. Who will I become outside of the player I once was? What will I achieve in life that does not come in the form of a trophy, a “gold” medal, an All-American certificate, or a homerun ball? What will I be able to look back on and truly be grateful for that does not involve a motivational speech from a coach, a group of teammates waiting to greet me at home plate after scoring a run, or the simple privilege of being healthy and able to compete at such an elite level? Though right now it is so difficult to comprehend the answers to any of these questions I have for myself, I know that God did not bring me to MidAmerica just to finish my softball career as a Pioneer. There is no way He is finished with me yet, and I am so looking forward to what His future plans for me entail.

I want to end this (for good, I promise) by giving one last shout-out to the Softball Seniors of 2011. I will never look back and smile more than when I think about the last two seasons I was fortunate to play with all of you. I know that your lives will continue to be blessed with health and happiness, and that God will guide you on all of your journeys in life. Our mark has been made, and I firmly believe in my heart that what we have accomplished in our time here at MNU will be forever sought by future Pioneers to come.

“You, O Lord will be my light; by you, my God, the dark will be made bright for me.” –Psalm 18:28

Once a Pioneer, Always a Pioneer!!
Love Always,
Taylor #21

P.S. If you have read this entire blog entry, you rock!!

Who Wants It More?

I just got back from a team dinner at Lester's: a seafood place not too far from our hotel. The hospitality was unbelievably great, and the food was even better. The team enjoyed crab legs, buffalo wings, burgers, and pasta. TG probably had the most satisfying (and most expensive) meal of the evening--lobster tail. Everyone gave her a hard time about ordering something that was almost twice the amount of our individual spending limits, but I think it was worth the great food. T, if you're reading this: I would have done the same thing...if I liked seafood, of course ;)

But anyway...

It felt so amazing to watch my teammates come back this afternoon after a devastating loss yesterday. Our game against SUNY-Canton proved how resilient MNU Softball has been all season. Coach Babs prepared us well for the pitching style we had to face, and the scouting we did yesterday worked out perfectly in the game today. A win at Nationals is always nice, but a run-rule is even better. This team has so much momentum going into tomorrow's match-up against #1 Cal. Baptist. Not to mention, the entire NAIA will be joining Pioneer Nation...at least for a few hours, anyway. I am so excited to know that we still have a chance to compete in the Elite Eight. While most teams look at a road like ours and say, "We're done," we are focusing so heavily on what we need to do to shock the country. Something that helps me stay positive and focused on our game tomorrow is knowing that there truly is nothing special about Cal. Baptist. In defense of the aforementioned statement, what I mean is that each player on that team puts on her uniform the same way every player on our team does. They buy their bats from the same companies we do. They cry, they laugh, they bleed, just like us. However, they want to win just as badly as we do. Tomorrow will determine which team is capable of making the fewest mistakes. A record of 61-3 cannot be underestimated, but neither can a 39-11 one. People may have already counted us out. I'm sure there are more odds stacked against us than there are for us. But none of that matters. It never has. This team thrives when no one expects us to perform. Do I even need to remind anyone of the HAAC tournament? One hit, one error, one extra base, one bad call...any of those can change the entire outcome of a ball game. I have never believed in this team more than I do in this exact moment. Come tomorrow evening, at 6:00 PM to be precise, we will find out which team really does want to win more.

Thank you for your continued support of MNU Softball. Go, Go, MNU!!

Love Always,
Taylor #21

Moving Forward...

I wish I had more to say, but sadly I really don't. We watched our hopes at winning our pool get a little harder as Friends found a way to out-score us, even though we out-hit them. It wasn't exactly a great way to begin our day. I've always had a "here and now" type of mentality, so to be honest, I'd rather post a blog about our future games rather than the one we've already played. Tomorrow we play SUNY-Canton, the fourth seed in our pool. After watching them play Cal. Baptist this afternoon, I feel confident that if we play errorless ball, and continue to find ways to score runs, we will even out our pool play record headed into Saturday's match-up. Nationals has a tendency to bring out both the best and the worst qualities in a team. We haven't had many games where we have played our best in all three aspects: pitching, defense, and hitting. We can't afford to do that from here on out. I hope you can find some time tomorrow afternoon to listen/watch our game against State University of New York-Canton at 3:30 PM.

Go Neers!

Love Always,
Taylor #21

One Last Practice

We woke up bright and early this morning to get one last practice in before we begin pool play tomorrow. We quickly learned that several teams had also decided to hold a practice at the same sports complex as us in Orange Beach, and needless to say, there definitely were not 32 fields to accomodate each one. Luckily there was a baseball field closeby that several teams shared, and each school took turns taking infield on the actual softball field, which had t-ball regulation bases and pitcher's circle. The weather here is definitely hotter than Kansas, but the humidity isn't quite as bad...at least not yet.

Lunch at Moe's BBQ was really good!! Not to discredit the famous barbeque places in Kansas City, but I just don't think anybody compares to places we've been to in the Southeast the last 2 years. Most of the girls went to the ocean once we got back to our condos, then it was off to the Opening Banquet and the "Parade of Champions" at The Wharf Resort. A great meal was provided as each qualifying team was recognized. Jordan was given the Champions of Character award, while she, Gale, and myself were named NAIA Scholar Athletes. Overall it was great day for Pioneer Softball.

MNU/Friends is the first game of the 2011 NAIA National Tournament. We know a lot about them, but they know a lot about us as well. It's going to be a great match-up, and hopefully we will walk away with our 39th win of the season. Game begins at 9:00 AM tomorrow. Check out links on mnusports.com to see how you can watch/listen!

Love Always,
Taylor #21

Hello Gorgeous Gulf Shores!!

I am happy to be writing this blog from our beautiful condos in Gulf Shores, Alabama!! We arrived around 1:00 this afternoon, and have been blessed with gorgeous sunny skies and a perfect view of the Gulf from our rooms. The bus ride was much more pleasant than I envisioned it being, since we chose to leave Monday evening and drive through the night. I remember falling asleep in St. Louis and not waking up until we crossed the Alabama state line. Charter buses just aren’t made for sleeping, unless you’re a contortionist I suppose. We made do with the space we had, though. We watched a wide variety of movies: Tangled, Friday Night Lights, Martian Child, and The Last Song. The 16 hour drive really did seem to fly by, and I am so glad we have an entire day to relax and enjoy our surroundings before getting a morning practice, followed by both the banquet and “Parade of Champions” tomorrow.

The team is healthy and ready to get back on the field, especially with the pool we’ve drawn for the National Tournament. Being the #2 seed is exciting, but we know that rankings don’t mean much in a place where every team is good. Babs told us at our last practice that every year, at least one #1 seed does not advance to the Elite Eight. How great would it be for us to upset not just the #1 seed in our pool, but also the #1 team in the nation? This entire season we have played with targets on our backs. The entire HAAC was thriving to beat MNU. Now, at the biggest stage in NAIA Softball, the pressure isn’t on us to win the pool—it’s on Cal. Baptist. Before we begin thinking of them, we have to prepare for our first opponent in Friends University (yes, we came all the way to Alabama to play a school from the same state as us). We’ve played some tough games against schools in their conference this season, so we know that they truly earned their right to be here. SUNY-Canton is a school we don’t know much about, but will hopefully get to scout later on Thursday when they play Cal. Baptist. MNU Softball isn’t just here to say, “Hey, we made it to Nationals. Good for us.” We know we can compete, and we are ready to shock the nation this week.

I’ll be updating this blog daily, so feel free to check back often. Time to go enjoy the beach with my teammates. Havin’ a day!!

Love Always,
Taylor #21

2011 HAAC TOURNAMENT CHAMPS!!

I am sooooo excited to be writing this blog, and even more excited that I still have a few more to write when we go to GULF SHORES, ALABAMA for the 2011 NAIA NATIONAL TOURNAMENT next week!!! There will never be enough words to describe how proud I am of my teammates, and how blessed I am to be a Pioneer. It was such a relief to see each player step up when it mattered most this weekend. The Evangel game was a true test of our mental stamina, as we lost a 7-2 lead, but rallied back to score 4 more runs AND hold them the rest of the way. Our first meeting with CMU showed us that it is in fact possible to win a game on a single hit, and that defense actually does win ball games. The championship game against Central Methodist reminded me of why I decided to play softball in the first place. Never have I been a part of a team who wanted a win as much as we did that game. We knew what it meant, and we knew that we weren't ending our season any other way. As a senior, it means the world to me that I am guaranteed at least 3 more games of my career. Knowing that I will play my final game at the most prestigious event possible is such an awesome feeling. It goes without saying that it has been a GREAT YEAR TO BE A PIONEER!!

We have a week of practices before we leave on Monday, the 16th. We know what it takes to win at Nationals now, so I have all the confidence in the world that this team will be well-prepared for whomever we draw in pool play. If we play like we did this past weekend at the HAAC tournament, I have a great feeling we will be competing in the Elite Eight beginning on the 23rd, which just happens to be my birthday as well :) I am going to do my best to post daily blogs about our experience in Gulf Shores, and of course, our games at Nationals.

THANK YOU PIONEER NATION FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT!! MNU Softball loves all of you!!

THE PIONEERS ARE BAMA BOUND...BACK TO BACK!!

Love Always,
Taylor #21

Final Four!!

We were blessed with having an "away" home game on Tuesday before beginning the first of round of the HAAC post season tournament. Because their fields were too wet, MO Valley came to Olathe to play us in the final regular season series of 2011. We needed to sweep them to claim the 2nd seed in the tournament, and I am happy to say we did just that.

Being the #2 team in the bracket meant we were to host #7 Benedictine for the second straight season. I must admit I was extremely nervous, considering their deceiving 10-10 conference record included victories over #1 Central Methodist, #3 Lindenwood, and us. On a warm, but windy day at Williams Field, pitching and simply putting the ball in play were all we needed to advance to Round 2 of playoffs. Jen pitched amazing in Game 1, keeping Benedictine from even threatening to score a run throughout the entire game. Babs had us work on reading pitches in the dirt at practice on Thursday, which really worked to our advantage in Game 2. It was bittersweet to see our final home game of the season (and the seniors' careers) come to an end, but what's more important is that MNU Softball is the Final Four of the 2011 HAAC Tournament!!

Central Methodist and Evangel also swept their 3-games against MO Valley and Baker, respectively. Lindenwood and William Jewell had to play 14 innings in Game 2 and 19 innings in the decisive Game 3 before Jewell came away with the series win.

We are going to prepare like no other for our first opponent of the double elimination tournament: Evangel. We split with them earlier in the season, but as every sports fan knows--stats and history go out the window when playoffs arrive. I know that Coach Babs will continue to use his scouting reports to help us prepare for all aspects of Evangel's game. We played them earlier in the season, so we know that they're not the same team...but neither are we.

I am so excited to get a couple of practices in this week while the weather is nice before making the trip to Fayette, Missouri to keep pursuing our goal of repeating as HAAC Tournament Champs. It's been a great week to be a Pioneer!!

MNU vs. Evangel - Friday, May 6th - 2:00 PM - Fayette, MO

Love Always,
Taylor #21

Havin' a Senior Day!!

As cliche as this sounds, the saying "all good things must come to an end" has been weighing heavy on my heart these last few days. I began playing softball when I was 5 years old, and I swear every memory I can recall of my career flashed before my eyes as we were warming up yesterday against Lindenwood on Senior Night. God answered my prayer to keep the rains away, but the cold temperatures and forceful wind made for an eventful evening at Williams Field. As expected, a lot was on the line for both teams. Coming in with the same number of losses as the current HAAC leader Central Methodist, either us or Lindenwood would be denied of repeating as regular season champions. I'll let you read the write up on www.mnusports.com for explicit details, but in sum--it can now be said that neither us, nor Lindenwood will finish #1 in the conference. A regular season championship does not define a team, though. Any athlete will tell you that. Our goal now is to sweep Missouri Valley on Monday and host the first round of playoffs next Friday and Saturday. As I said before, we are in great position to return to the NAIA National Championships in Alabama. A new season begins once post-season rolls around. Sadly, my fellow seniors and I can see the end of our careers drawing near. This blog is dedicated to them and what they have meant not just to MNU Softball, but to me as well...

Stephanie Jones #2 -- When I look at Steph, I am reminded of how far faith can take someone. I have come to know her on a deeper level in recent months, and have grown to appreciate her inner strength and perseverance, as this season has been one of constant struggle and setbacks for such a wonderful teammate and friend. I know that I will take all of the great advice she has given me to heart as I enter a world that will undoubtedly test me like this season has tested her. I met Steph as a new teammate, but I will say good-bye to her as an eternal friend.

Jennifer Costa #12 -- It would be hard to summarize in only a few sentences the impact Jen has had on my life in the short amount of time we have known one another, but here it goes. Never had I witnessed a more passionate love for the sport of softball before I met Jen. Since then, I have become even more dedicated to getting stronger in all aspects of the game. I've had a companion there to throw me extra batting practice, help me become a better defensive player, and continue to encourage me of how much progress I make every day. I have no doubt that Jen will continue to achieve greatness and success in whatever direction her life's path leads her.

Ashley Salter #15 -- This girl has given me more reasons to laugh and smile than anyone I have ever known. Her contagious free-spirited personality has helped me get through some of the hardest times I've ever had while at MNU. I know that no matter what is going on, Salty will always give me a reason to see the good--and even the funny--side of it. I hope that I can begin to look at life the way she does: with a carefree and fun-loving attitude. I will always admire her commitment and dedication to MNU Sports, and will be forever grateful for the support her family has provided not only us with every season, but also her since she first picked up a softball.

Emily True #24 -- I am extremely blessed for this person, not just as a "pick me up" on the field, but most importantly, for the everlasting friendship I will share with her once our final game has been played. In every moment I have been hurt or lost, True has been right there by my side. I will always remember the memories we've shared and the seemingly ridiculous things we love to laugh about on a daily basis. I cannot even describe how much she and her family have inspired me in the small amount of time I have known them. I will miss her so much when we say good-bye, but I know in my heart that our friendship does not end when our softball careers do.


"We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we go, we take a little of each other with us." -Unknown

How blessed I am to have people who make saying good-bye so hard.

Love Always,
Taylor #21

It's Not Over...

I just noticed where my last blog post came when we were still undefeated in the Heart of America Athletic Conference...two weeks ago. I guess I have a lot to catch everyone up on then :)

Despite coming from behind twice to defeat Central Methodist at our place, we were dealt a shocking defeat to Baker, who is by far the most underestimated team in the conference. Luckily after losing a heartbreaker in 10 innings by one run, our bats woke up and helped us prevail in Game 2 to earn a split. Non-conference wins against Bethany a few days later helped us gain momentum heading into an 8-game week to come. William Jewell didn't let their first game loss to us phase them, as they took us to a 9-inning, one run loss on our own field. The following day we travelled to Springfield, MO to play Evangel, whom we hadn't seen since ending their season and run at Nationals in dramatic fashion last year in the second round of playoffs. We easily came away with a win in Game 1, and seemed to have Game 2 won before they scored 5 unanswered runs to come from behind and hand us our third conference loss of the 2011 season. Things didn't get much better the next day as we went to Ottawa for a couple of games. Thankfully, after watching another lead diminish and result in a loss, we responded like no other with a 15-1 run-rule victory. Sporting pink jerseys in honor of cancer awareness on Saturday, we were finally able to get a sweep against another non-conference opponent in William Woods University.

Which leaves me to where Pioneer Softball is right now...27-8 overall, and 9-3 in the Heart. We are blessed that our chances of repeating as HAAC Champions are still very much alive. Like last year though, we need some other teams to help us out. We also need to go undefeated from this moment forward. My, how that sounds so familiar :) If anyone has ruled MNU out of the 2011 HAAC Championship race, I strongly encourage you to reconsider until the final out has been made at the end of the season. So much can still happen, and I know that my teammates and coaches have all the faith in the world that great things are still in store for the red, white, and blue...and pink to an extent ;)

This week is nothing but away conference games: Benedictine on Tuesday, Avila on Thursday, and Missouri Valley on Saturday. Hopefully our chances at finishing #1 will be significantly increased come Sunday morning, and that we will be well prepared for our final home game--Senior Night :'(--against another rival, and current HAAC leader Lindenwood next Tuesday the 19th.

Love Always,
Taylor #21

Oh, How I Love Being a Pioneer

It has truly been a great year to be a Pioneer! While the weather hasn't exactly been good to us this season, we were blessed with clear skies the last few days so that we could at least get a couple of conference games in before the snow--yes, I said snow--came down this weekend. Our trip to Georgia was a learning experience, to say the least, and we came into our first conference double header against Culver-Stockton out to prove that there was no mistake in selecting MNU as preseason #1 in the HAAC. I was afraid that we would struggle adjusting to the pitching Culver had to offer, considering we had just faced some of the best pitchers we will see all year down in Georgia. Luckily we had a big inning in Game 1, and scored in each of the first four innings in Game 2 to come away with our first two conference wins of the season. Six of our eight pitchers took the mound in the two games, and all of them did an amazing job at keeping the Culver hitters off-guard. I think we are all beginning to see how effective having such a deep pitching staff will be as our season progresses.

Rain washed away our chance of travelling to Winfield to play a non-conference series at Southwestern, but luckily sunny skies dried up our home field just in time for another HAAC double header against Graceland. Finally being able to play on Williams Field was beyond exciting, even if it was a little on the chilly side. Our bats struggled in the first game, even though we won by a score of 4-0. Thanks to a couple of walks and timely hits, we came away with a pretty ugly win if you ask me. We left no doubt in Game 2, though: scoring 7 runs early, then finally putting up the decisive 8th run in time for the 5-inning run rule victory. I was happy to see so many people at the games, and I hope they enjoyed themselves enough to come to some more home games--like on Wednesday when we host Central Methodist (who is also undefeated in the HAAC right now).

With four HAAC wins so far this season, I must say that I am even more anxious to see what this season truly has in store for us. We know that regardless of how good a team may be playing, on any given day, especially in our conference, they can lose the game that could have sealed their fate. My hope is that we will continue to work hard and live up to AND exceed the expectations that have been set for us. Next week will be a big test as we play two teams (CMU and Baker) who have started strong in the HAAC so far. We would love to see everyone who can make it in the stands as we work to take one step further toward a repeat HAAC title.

I want to take this time to thank Lynsey and Keeley's dads, who worked so diligently on our dugouts and field this last week. The time and effort they put in is extremely appreciated.

I also want to extend my deepest gratitude to all of my teammates and coaches who have helped me get through the sudden loss of my grandmother, who passed away just a few hours before we took the field against Graceland on Wednesday. Words cannot describe how blessed I am for each and everyone of them, and I will never forget all of the encouraging and uplifting words and prayers they have devoted to both me and my family in this time of trouble. I always knew I was lucky to be a member of MNU Softball, but this week has left no doubt that it truly is a blessing to represent Pioneer Nation.

Love Always,
Taylor #21

With Every Loss Comes a Lesson...

I think I can confidently say that every athlete in the world hates losing. On any level, at any age, in any event...losing never feels good. In my short career at MNU, I haven't lost very often. In fact, I have won more games in the 5 months I've been a Pioneer than I did in my two-year junior college career. Even then, I hated every loss we sufferred. It wasn't until I came here to MidAmerica when I learned that losing can actually be a good thing after all. I think our Spring Break trip is a prime example of that.

If you are reading this blog, I would assume that you are probably aware of the outcomes of each game we played in Savannah, Georgia. Despite defeating an NCAA Division I school twice (Savannah State University), we unfortunately were swept by a DII school (Armstrong Atlantic University) and a fellow NAIA ranked opponent on their home field (SCAD). While losing itself is hard to swallow, barely losing is even harder. You may have noticed that two of our games were decided by one run, with another being by two. Two of those three losses were games in which we were winning, but could not hold onto in the end. Call me crazy, but I would rather lose by 10 runs than one. I would rather never be up than lose a lead in the final inning. Coach Babs said at the end of our two-day series that he felt like we needed these losses; that we needed to know what the other teams we play go through when we beat them. As hard as it is to accept, I know--and the rest of the team knows--that he is right.

MNU vs. SCAD (6-7 L and 1-3 L)
I have always believed that 6 runs should win a ballgame. In fact, 3 or 4 should win a ballgame. Had we not given SCAD 4 runs in the very first inning, we easily would have won our first game. The pitching was astronomically better than what we had seen in our first 13 games of the season, but it took us a few innings to finally make our adjustments at the plate. SCAD won simply because they took advantage of extra opportunities we gave them--both on defense and with our bats. Jen, True, and Chelsea all hit homeruns, while Annie and TG split pitching time. The second game (our final game) came down to three big hits--one on our side and two on theirs. Fortunately for them, both of theirs came with runners in scoring position. It sucks that mistakes in a sport like softball can cost a team a game, whereas typically, mistakes in other sports only cost a team a small opportunity. SCAD took advantage of our missed opportunities, and in both games, that made all the difference.

MNU vs. Savannah State University (8-1 W and 1-0 W in 8 innings)
It seems odd that we managed to easily defeat an NCAA DI program by 7 runs in the first game, but then be forced to play an additional inning against them right after. The score of the first game best reflects how good we are as a team. The score of the second game simply reflects how easy it is to struggle when you think you can win half-heartedly. True and Jen hit homeruns in the first contest. Costa also won the game in the circle while receiving relief from Gale, Becca, and JJ. Kayla threw a complete game shutout in Game 2, and most definitely deserved the win she got thanks to TG's single through the right side in the bottom on the 8th inning.

MNU vs. Armstrong Atlantic University (4-5 L and 8-1 L)
I want to begin by saying that this school is the best team we have played thus far, and could possibly be the best team we end up playing all season. With the help of two homeruns by Jen, and consistent pitching from Jess, we had this DII school down going into the bottom of the 6th inning. Once again, small mistakes cost us the game. Armstrong scored two runs in their half of the 7th and shut us down in the bottom to get a come-from-behind win. Like I said earlier, I'd much rather lose by 10 than one, especially when you consider we were one out away from winning. The second game was ours for just a short second, then Armstrong literally took over. They hit three homeruns, all with runners on base, of course. Our bats never really came alive, despite a homerun by Salty in the top of the 1st. There's really nothing more to say. We finally learned what it is like to lose badly, and it was probably the biggest pride check I think I've ever experienced.

With every loss comes a lesson. Some lessons are easier to see than others. Coach has always said he prefers his team to go 20-0 in conference even if they go 0-20 before that. We've played 17 games and have won 13. Before Georgia, we didn't know what it was like to lose this year. Now we do. We now understand what it takes to hit quality pitching, what it means to start strong and finish strong, what we have to do if we want to repeat as HAAC Champions. I know that our experiences in Georgia will impact how we perform in the 20 games we play that really matter. I just hope that we as a team can understand that losing is inevitable in a failure sport like softball. What matters is how we use it to better ourselves in the future. I want to extend a huge CONGRATS to Seniors Jen Costa and Ashley Salter for making the All-Tournament Team in Georgia. I would also like to thank the families who made the drive to Savannah to watch us play. I don't ever think enough words can be said to signify how much it means to have you there cheering us on. Thank you for everything.

The small amount of time we had not on the softball field was well worth the 18 hour bus ride. We found entertainment in going to the beach, shopping, and enjoying our luxurious condominiums complete with a full kitchen, two bathrooms, three bedrooms, and a hot tub. We were happy to be in the sunshine while Olathe was being snowed on, but not so thrilled about dousing ourselves in dryer sheets and bug spray due to the large gnat population in Savannah. All in all, our trip was fun and much-needed. I am anxious to open up HAAC play with our double header against Culver-Stockton tomorrow, and even more excited to continue our quest for another trip down South to Alabama and the NAIA National Tournament in May.

See you at the ballpark!

Love Always,
Taylor #21

Georgia On Our Minds

I am writing this blog as our bus approaches its last couple of hours on the road before we finally arrive in Savannah, Georgia for the next 6 games on our schedule. It’s been a busy week for MNU Softball, despite having 4 games cancelled because of rain. When we finally did get to take the field on Thursday, it truly felt like we were starting our season up all over again. We traveled to Lindsborg for a non-conference double header against Bethany, and while we may have come away with two wins (or “dubs” as Salty would say), our team as a whole grew up a little that night. Despite us having a convincing 5-0 lead late in the game, Bethany slowly came back and tied the game in their last at bats to force extra innings. For the first time this season, our defense was tested. Yes, we struggled against St. Mary’s and Peru State earlier, but not like this. Errors meant losing the game this time around. Luckily we were able to get out of two big jams, turning an inning-ending double play in the bottom of the 8th, and another to end the game in the 9th. An entirely different team showed up in the second game as we finished things early with an 8-0 run-rule in 6 innings. A long bus ride home put us back on campus at 1:30 Friday morning, and with little time to prepare for our triple header at Oklahoma Wesleyan Saturday in Bartlesville.

As good as it felt to cross the Oklahoma state line and pull up to the same fields I remember playing on from the time I was ten years old, I personally came into our 3-game matchup with OWU extremely worried. Any athlete competing in a team sport will admit that it is very hard to beat a team three times, especially when those three times come consecutively. I learned that they had beaten #10 Oklahoma City University earlier in the week, so of course, I knew they wouldn’t just be a push-over. I was happy to see us score quickly in the first game, and then produce big plays on defense to stop any momentum OWU was beginning to have. While we may have won Game 1 pretty easily (9-0) in 5 innings, Game 2 was yet another mental test for us.

After spotting them a couple runs in the first inning, it seemed to take our bats forever to get going. Jen helped us by hitting a solo homerun early in the game, but we found ourselves losing 3-1 in the top half of the 6th inning. TG led us off with a double, followed by another Jen Costa homerun to tie the game. Salty followed my single with a homerun as well, putting us up by 2 late in the game. Our offenses continued to score in our half of the 7th, and we were blessed to come away with our 10th straight win of the season. The final game was fortunately very much like Game 1 on both sides of the ball. Thanks to three homeruns by Jen, TG, and True, and strong pitching from TG, Gale, and Jess, we took the third game in 5 innings as well.

Immediately after playing our 3 games in Oklahoma, we were provided with an opportunity to shower in the female athletic locker rooms on campus before venturing east for the night…and well into the following day. It’s been hard staying entertained and finding comfortable sleeping positions, and even harder waiting to finally arrive in Savannah at our condos on the beach. I don’t know what this team would be like if technology did not exist. Our iPods have been our saving grace, and DVDs are the only things keeping us from going crazy. We know the trip will be well-worth the wait, though. Seeing the beach and feeling the gorgeous weather that Kansas has been lacking as of late will be a huge sigh of relief for all the players and coaches. I am so excited to get there, take the field, and pick up right where we left off in Oklahoma.

As MNU Softball currently sits at #21 in the NAIA, with a seemingly impressive 11-0 record, everyone knows that our season truly begins once we start facing conference opponents. While we may be the favorites of the HAAC this season, it hasn’t gone unnoticed that the favorite usually doesn’t end up on top in the end. We want to change that. Last season was our year to shock people—and we did. Never did we have a thing to lose when we played Evangel, Lindenwood, Central Methodist, or MO Valley. We weren’t supposed to win. This year, the roles are completely reversed. Everyone wants to beat MNU. Hopefully playing these tougher opponents in Georgia (SCAD, Savannah State, and Armstrong Atlantic) will help us come home to Olathe and prepare for the most important twenty games of our season. I'll try my hardest to keep this updated throughout the next few days as we represent MidAmerica down South.

Thanks for the support! Go Pioneers!

Love Always,
Taylor #21

Six Games In...

I can finally post a blog about our games instead of our practices :)

Last week we were able to beat the snow and get a couple of games in against St. Mary's, and luckily we had some time to work on areas we noticed needed improving before beginning an 8-game, 4-day adventure this week. What I love is that we may have made it a little too close in Game 1, but we literally came alive in Game 2 to live up to what we can do as a team. Coach warned us how different this season would be than last. As the underdogs from Day 1, we never had a thing to lose on the ballfield. We were expected to fall, expected to not make great plays, expected not to hit well. This season, the tables have completely turned. Playing St. Mary's showed us that teams play well when they have nothing to lose. We know, because we've been there. It's not easy getting used to having targets on our backs, but I have faith that once we get a few more games in this season, we will rise up to all of the hype.

Peru State decided to play us in a last minute deal, and I am very grateful for their coach committing to travel on such short notice in order to get some games in. One thing we faced that we weren't very used to was being behind late in the game. It wasn't until the 5th inning that we started adjusting to the pitcher, and luckily for us it wasn't too little, too late. T (Tianna George) came up HUGE for us by nailing a 2-run homerun that put us up a run. Jen pitched great and deserved the win hands down. Thankfully Game 2 was a little less nervewracking. Jess pitched so great, and of course, Jen hit two homeruns. What else is new? HAHA! :) It feels great to see our team not only start strong and end strong, but also work through adversity and come through when it matters. The more we play, the more excited I am to see how the season will unfold once HAAC play starts.

St. Mary's came down to play us again for two more "home" games. I say "home" games because we are still unable to play at Williams Field on campus, but have the ability to use Lone Elm Sports Complex instead. It took us a while to score, but once we did, we never really stopped. 7 runs in one inning was plenty of runs to come away with a win, but the final score ended up being 10-1 in 5 innings (via the 8-run ahead mercy rule). Jen hit her 4th homerun of the season while I hit my 1st...and of course, my mom missed it because she was getting her jacket out of the car. Kayla, Jess, and JJ (Jordan Payne) all pitched great, making it easier for us to hold onto our lead. Kayla got hit in the wrist by a line drive, but still pitched a few innings after. I'm really impressed with how she stayed in after getting hit, and hopefully it is not a serious injury.

The second game was just as impressive from our pitching staff--Annie throwing her ridiculous change-up that even fools me from first base, followed by Tianna who literally blew the ball right past every batter she faced, then Becca hitting her spots left and right. In 2 games, we used 6 of our 8 pitchers. I couldn't help but laugh when I overheard a St. Mary's player say, "Jeez! How many pitchers do they have?!" from inside the dugout. Words can't describe how great it feels to play defense behind such a diverse and quality pitching staff. Offensively we struck early and often, which I (and surely Coach Babs) love! T hit another homerun in the first inning, and everything else was hit-after-hit-after-hit. A few errors helped us out too, but I was extremely pleased with how often we put the ball in play. Thanks again to the 8-run ahead rule, game two ended quickly with an 11-0 score.

Sadly our four games against Grand View University got cancelled this weekend (STUPID RAIN!!). We have a busy week ahead of us though: a double header against an always good Bethany College at their place Tuesday...a 4-game series between Kansas Wesleyan and McPherson College (both away games) on Wednesday...a triple header in BEAUTIFUL OKLAHOMA against an up and coming program in Oklahoma Wesleyan...and then a 17-hour bus ride to Savannah, Georgia for 6 games against some of the best teams we will face all season.
Keep checking mnusports.com and/or the MNU Athletics Facebook page for updates. I can't promise to be as efficient as they are, but I will do my best to post another entry next week before we head out of state for Spring Break :)

#21 MNU Softball is 6-0!! GREAT DAY (AND WEEK) TO BE A PIONEER!!

Love Always,
Taylor #21

Praying for Sunshine!

Hello, hello. Hopefully this time next week I will actually have an entry worth posting instead of one like I am posting tonight. Once again, our games this past weekend at Oklahoma Wesleyan were postponed due to weather. I don't even know if words can describe how anxious the team is to begin this season, especially now that we've had to wait an additional 2 weeks to play.

This weekend we are hosting an invitational tournament at Lone Elm Park Softball Complex in Olathe, and have some quality opponents ahead of us. Playing Ottawa will be a true test, considering the last time we played them was in our final game of the 2010 season at Nationals down in Alabama. We ended their season with a loss, so it goes without saying that they will be ready to get some revenge. We will also be tested against St. Gregory's University, a school that participates in what is arguably one of the toughest conferences in NAIA Softball: the Sooner Athletic Conference. I played against several of the SGU players when we were younger, and I know they will be a tough opponent. Bellevue (Nebraska) University is also a team I am looking forward to playing. They qualified for Nationals last season, like us, and seem to always have a great team year after year.

I'm just so excited to see what our team can do. We were finally able to go outside last week and work on team defense (my personal favorite). Our pitchers continue to work hard and look great during live hitting sessions, and our hitters are constantly working to improve themselves. All we can do now is continue to hope and pray that the rain is light, the temperatures warm up, and the sun shines once Friday and Saturday arrive. It's almost time for MNU SOFTBALL!! Get excited :)

P.S. Coach Mac showed us an awesome video to help us understand the importance of believing in ourselves, and I thought it was worth sharing with you as well. Click here to see it.

Love Always,
Taylor #21

One More Week

I want to begin by thanking you for reading this blog, and I hope you will be interested in returning to this page throughout the next few months as my teammates and I begin our quest for a repeat HAAC Championship...

I began this blog last season when we travelled to Alabama for the NAIA National Tournament, and I am beyond excited to keep Pioneer Nation up-to-date on the 2011 MNU Softball team this season! My goal is not to provide you with a recap and/or summary of our games, since that is what the Sports Information Department is for :) Instead, my hope is to allow every individual who reads this blog the opportunity to see the team in its entirety: the work we put forth in practice, the experiences we share off the field, and the memorable things that are worth repeating. I have a good feeling that you will grow to love and appreciate this team more and more with every entry you choose to read.

With that being said, I thought it would be a good idea to give you a brief summary of the last four weeks we've had since returning to campus from Christmas Break...

• Our team spent most of our first day back before classes learning about our own and each other's strengths through the Strengths Quest program. We were able to see how our teammates and coaches handle conflict, as well as the various ways in which they communicate, set expectations, and ultimately live their lives. It was an extremely beneficial experience!
• My fellow seniors and I were in charge of leading practices during the first week, which allowed everyone the opportunity to get back in the swing of things--no pun intended ;) Obviously because of the cold weather, we are limited to practicing indoors in the South Gym of Cook Center, but the way I've always viewed it: it could be worse...WAY worse.
• We've worked a lot on hitting and adjusting to different speeds of pitching. Coach established a Hitting League in which groups of three players compete against each other in several rounds of 10 cuts off the pitching machine. We also broke in the new Lite Flight ball machine, which helps batters pick up the ever-so-dangerous rise ball. That one definitely took several of us some getting-used-to.
• Defense practice has been limited because of the small space we're allowed, but our coaches have us working on several fundamental drills that I believe will give us an edge come time for the season to start. I must admit, it is scary to think that the first time we get outside will most likely be our first game of the season.
• Coach Mac, who runs the Sports Psychology program for our team, had us participate in a "dating video" to help us gain a better understanding of each other on a personal level. It was both eye-opening and entertaining, to say the least.
• We also took part in an ugly sweater bowling party last week, which I must admit has been my favorite "Team MNU" day thus far. Two things I learned from that experience are: 1.) Shoulder pads are extremely difficult to remove from sweaters, and 2.) Never, ever, ever, ever bowl against Steph or Laura.

Sadly our games this weekend in my home state of Oklahoma have been cancelled due to poor field conditions. As bummed as I and the rest of the girls are that our season opener has been postponed an entire week, we know through our Sports Psychology sessions that weather is one thing we will never be able to control. Hopefully the sun will shine brightly back home next week and the temperatures will allow for the snow to melt and dry in time for our triple header against Oklahoma Wesleyan on Saturday. Until then, we'll just keep working hard inside and continue praying for mother nature to be on our side.

Love Always,
Taylor #21

MNU Softball: What it's all about...

It's about having half-tanned arms and ghost-white legs.

It’s walking by Williams Field on your way to class in January, wondering if the snow will melt in time for the first home game.

It’s about sitting in Chapel praying for the snow to melt in time for the first home game.

It’s about conditioning practices when you wonder if this is in fact what it’s like to die.

It’s about making history and breaking records.

It’s two hour study tables that you may hate, but know deep down are saving your GPA.

It’s about mastering the art of sunflower seed spitting and hair bow tying.

It’s giving back to those who are in much more need than you could ever imagine.

It’s about getting to weights extra early in order to avoid the punishment of even one floor sweep.

It’s sliding into home to score the winning run.

It’s about playing in the freezing cold, cuddling with teammates under a million blankets in the dugout, and only getting up when it’s your turn to be on deck.

It’s about playing in 100-plus degrees, never forgetting to pack sunscreen and an ice chest full of towels and water.

It’s standing on second, stealing the catcher’s signs.

It’s crying with your teammates after the season comes to an end.

It’s pregame rituals, drawing pictures in the dirt with your bat, handshakes with teammates after an out, and forgetting the signs as soon as you step into the batter’s box.

It’s professors who stop you between classes to talk about the game you played the day before.

It’s making absolutely zero plans on weekends because you’re exhausted from five days of practices, weights, conditioning, and classes.

It’s about other students you don’t even know cheering for you at home games.

It’s about thinking you’re good at hitting, and then you meet Coach Juber :)

It’s about playing for what’s on the front of your jersey instead of what’s on the back.

It’s tripping on the grass your first day of wearing metal cleats.

It’s thinking you’re cool when you show 2 outs with your index and pinky fingers instead of the generic way you learned how to do it in kindergarten.

It’s awkward stares from the public when they see you wearing several ice bags on your shoulders, backs, and legs. If they only knew…

It’s coaches who make every practice worth your time and teammates who keep you from getting homesick.

It’s about making the most out of being stuck in a hotel all night.

It’s about hearing your name over the PA system, and walking up to bat with your favorite song playing in the background.

It’s reliving old memories and creating new ones each and every day.

It’s about making sure every action shot of you is tagged on the Athletics Facebook page.

It’s jumping over the chalk lines, putting on the left sock before the right one, and playing catch with the same person the entire season because you’re superstitious.

It’s diving for a ball and actually catching it.

It’s never, ever giving up until the final out is made.

It’s about ending seasons and careers; watching others grieve as you celebrate.

It’s about teammates becoming sisters, and coaches becoming friends.

It’s long bus rides, bad restaurant food, awkward sleeping positions, and bus drivers that you swear don’t have a license.

It’s about thinking you’re a great hitter until you see a rise ball for the first time.

It’s about thinking you’re not that slow until you see a slapper for the first time.

It’s having the NAIA Stats website saved under “Favorites” on your computer.

It’s about making sure every memorable moment is added to “The Book.”

It’s about playing for the “coolest coaching staff in the nation.”

It’s eating at the same place every time as long as you’re winning.

It’s about being proud to wear MNU across your chest.

It’s remembering those who came before you and those who will follow along the path you leave behind.

It’s about always remembering the One who gave you the gift to play in the first place.

It's about looking back on where you once were and where you are now; what you achieved then and what you have yet to accomplish; the girl who picked up a ball for the first time, and the woman who is only months away from hanging up her cleats for good.

2011 SEASON BEGINS FEBRUARY 12TH!!

Love Always,
Taylor #21