Now that I've got the hang of things and a daily routine set up, doing life in Florida is a breeze. Being back on the field has been amazing for me. It's great to get back into the swing of things (literally) and shake off the rust from the last three months of quarantine in Illinois. The fields here are pretty good, but there's nothing like stepping out on the field at Marian Kneer Stadium, which I miss a lot. I know I missed playing the game while in quarantine, but I really didn't realize I missed it as much as I did.
Even though I'm not with my Redbird teammates – who I miss every single day – I'm having the time of my life getting to play again. I've loved getting to play with my new teammates and I really feel as though I've picked up right where I left off. I'm currently hitting .462 at the plate with three home runs, some stolen bases and a lot of singles with plenty of at-bats. I started the season hitting in the No. 2 spot, but now I've moved up to hitting in the lead-off spot like I was at Illinois State this season and I couldn't be happier with where I'm at.
I've been getting a lot of playing time, both at first base and pitching. The first few games were a little shaky, but my most recent outing in the circle was my best yet. I had a groove again and felt like I was just coming off a weekend playing in one of our collegiate preseason tournaments. To have three wins under my belt, and a 1.65 ERA, has helped me stay confident in my ability to control a ball game.
When I'm not pitching, I'm playing first base, which I'm really starting to understand the small details of playing that position. I'm working on leading when I'm not in the circle, so I'm getting a lot of experience with that. I enjoy the change of pace that first base brings, compared to pitching. I've been able to get a better grasp of both pitching and playing at first base, now that I've gotten to play many innings in both positions the last couple of weeks.
The coolest part for me, and biggest thing I've learned about myself, is that I'm more than just a softball player. The people here and the stories I have heard from them have put life into perspective, just as I'm sure my story puts life into perspective for others. I don't take anything for granted, especially not this experience in Florida. There's more to life than sports and I'm glad that I realize that. Although I will always consider myself an athlete, that is not my most defining trait. It's a huge part of my life, but it is not the only thing that adds positivity to my life.
As far as adjustments, there have been some that I've had to make. I've grown accustomed to my home field at ISU and the attention to detail that the field crew puts into Marian Kneer Stadium. The fields here play closer to what a high school field would, which makes me appreciate the field we have back home that much more. I've taken a few bad hops here, but nothing that isn't fixable. Overall, the facilities have been great. I do believe that the heat and the Florida weather overall has been my biggest adjustment. I drink a lot more water, Gatorade and Pedialyte than I ever have in my life, and even then, it's still not enough! I've really tried to eat healthy when I can, while also getting in my calories to be able to perform at my very best, which isn't always the easiest thing to do while living in a hotel, but I'm managing and learning.
My team is very dynamic, and we all have different things that we bring to the table. The girls on my team are fun to be around, which has helped me become more comfortable. Everyone is focused and has the same goal and it's great to see that we all have the same mindset and want to win. Some of my teammates are more reserved during games and some are super outgoing, but then they could be the complete opposite off the field while we're just hanging out. It's been fun to figure out different ways that some people play. I'm so used to knowing each of my teammates like the back of my hand at home, so being here and observing these girls is making me a better teammate and athlete.
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