Softball Risks Striking Out Before the Season's Start
Concerns arise for the team's inability to create a big enough roster.
By Rizwan Khan
Concerns arise for the team's inability to create a big enough roster.
By Rizwan Khan
After a rough 2022-2023 season, softball is in the dangerous position of perhaps not being able to play at all due to the lack of players.
Senior Sadie Heming has been playing softball since she was four years old and was planning on finishing her last season in high school.
“The possibility of not having a team this year will affect me a lot as I have been in this program for three years, going on four now and not getting my senior night or being able to play my last season will upset me as I have put so much into this program,” Heming said.
Mairead Mullin, 11, has been playing softball for seven years and doesn’t want her softball season to end on a sour note.
“I would be sad because softball is like me getting away from what is going on in life and for me to get away, and I'm kind of focused on softball at that moment and nothing else,” said Mullin.
While no season would be unfortunate, for some players, it can have larger impacts on their future commitments. Saya Fujii, 12, is committed to the University of Redlands for softball, and the lack of playing time could set her back in college.
“The possibility of not having a softball team this year is concerning because I need this last school season before going to play college softball in the fall and next spring. If we don’t have a softball team, I can’t play games during the spring because club softball is off during (that time), which means I won’t get the playing time I need,” said Fujii.
Softball had a rough season last year going 5-20. Heming thinks last year's record might have affected the roster size this season.
“I think with our records from the previous seasons, many players are discouraged from joining the team, but with us dropping to B league, we will have a better shot at doing well this year,” said Heming.
The head coach this season is Ernie Garcia, who rejoined the Mustang staff last year. Garcia plans to revive the team and get the team to how it was 10 years ago when he was coaching. That team was 14-0 in the league and 29-1 overall, their only loss being in the CCS championship against Archbishop Mitty.
“I have been coaching softball for over 30 years. I know my coaching skills can help develop players both mentally and physically. All of the years that I have coached, I have sent several players to play at the next level in college divisions I, II, and III,” said Garcia.
Fujii believes that a lack of players to begin with last season and seniors graduating is what’s hurting the team right now.
“Softball needs to be advertised more. It seems to be a fading sport, especially after COVID and I notice that a lot of people who play softball dislike the sport,” said Fujii.
Garcia plans to do whatever is possible in order to have a team for this year’s season.
“We always had a varsity and JV team, that’s my goal. I am not interested in coaching anywhere else. My goal is to have a high school softball team and I will make sure that’s going to happen,” said Garcia.
Senior Sadie Heming has been playing softball since she was four years old and was planning on finishing her last season in high school.
“The possibility of not having a team this year will affect me a lot as I have been in this program for three years, going on four now and not getting my senior night or being able to play my last season will upset me as I have put so much into this program,” Heming said.
Mairead Mullin, 11, has been playing softball for seven years and doesn’t want her softball season to end on a sour note.
“I would be sad because softball is like me getting away from what is going on in life and for me to get away, and I'm kind of focused on softball at that moment and nothing else,” said Mullin.
While no season would be unfortunate, for some players, it can have larger impacts on their future commitments. Saya Fujii, 12, is committed to the University of Redlands for softball, and the lack of playing time could set her back in college.
“The possibility of not having a softball team this year is concerning because I need this last school season before going to play college softball in the fall and next spring. If we don’t have a softball team, I can’t play games during the spring because club softball is off during (that time), which means I won’t get the playing time I need,” said Fujii.
Softball had a rough season last year going 5-20. Heming thinks last year's record might have affected the roster size this season.
“I think with our records from the previous seasons, many players are discouraged from joining the team, but with us dropping to B league, we will have a better shot at doing well this year,” said Heming.
The head coach this season is Ernie Garcia, who rejoined the Mustang staff last year. Garcia plans to revive the team and get the team to how it was 10 years ago when he was coaching. That team was 14-0 in the league and 29-1 overall, their only loss being in the CCS championship against Archbishop Mitty.
“I have been coaching softball for over 30 years. I know my coaching skills can help develop players both mentally and physically. All of the years that I have coached, I have sent several players to play at the next level in college divisions I, II, and III,” said Garcia.
Fujii believes that a lack of players to begin with last season and seniors graduating is what’s hurting the team right now.
“Softball needs to be advertised more. It seems to be a fading sport, especially after COVID and I notice that a lot of people who play softball dislike the sport,” said Fujii.
Garcia plans to do whatever is possible in order to have a team for this year’s season.
“We always had a varsity and JV team, that’s my goal. I am not interested in coaching anywhere else. My goal is to have a high school softball team and I will make sure that’s going to happen,” said Garcia.