Lady Flames staying positive in midst of lost season
All photos courtesy of Lee Flames.
COVID-19 may have brought an abrupt ending to the spring athletic season, but the Lee softball team is working hard to take advantage of its extra time.
“We are having weekly team Zoom sessions, and then we are having one short individual meeting each week,” said Emily Russell, head coach of the Lady Flames. “We are trying to encourage them to work hard and finish the semester strong. We have reminded them how fortunate they are to have the ability and resources to attend school from a phone.”
Coach Russell has worked hard to keep her players in touch with each other. But, even with the ability to stay in touch, it has been a hard transition for some.
“It’s been a very weird transition dealing with the cancelling of our season,” said Fielder Anna Marie Stocksbury. “It’s sad because this team has such a strong bond — we see each other every day and laugh, and now we don’t get to do that. I’m dealing with it by thinking about next year and all the softball we will get to play.”
Juniors Lulu Vasquez and Sirena Salazar.
The players are using this time to prepare themselves for next season. Before the cancellation, the team had a respectable 13-10 record.
“I have been taking advantage of this athletic suspension by putting in work for next season. I have been hitting, pitching and doing workouts at the field almost every day,” said pitcher Taylor De Adder. “I have no doubt that we are all putting in the work and that we are going to come back stronger and ready to make a statement next season.”
Though the sudden cancellation of their season and in-person meetings has been a hard transition, coach Russell is encouraging her players to remain positive about their situation.
“I think focusing on being grateful really helps with a positive mindset, and a positive mindset helps overcome a myriad of obstacles,” said Russell. “What happens to you in life is not as significant as how you respond to it. Controlling your reaction puts things back in your own control, instead of letting the circumstances control you.”
