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