Bloomington High School South, The Gothic, 2017, Page 139

Description:	GO BIG OR GO^^ The girls softball team comments§■1 ■ JF^ m%. ^L\| on the high number of homeruns theyve had this year.Home runs are the hallmark of softball. Nothing gets fansas energized as seeing their favorite player hit the ball intothe crowd and sprint towards the home base. Moreimportantly, hitting a home run is a tremendousachievement for the team. It is one of the moment whenthe players and the team are able to see all their rigoroustraining and practice pay off.This year, the girls softball team hit over 20 homeruns during the regular season. We hit more than lastyear when we were halfway through the season, seniorAddison Benham said. This accomplishment wouldnt bepossible without the hard work and talent amongst theteam members. Benham contributed to at least six of theteams home runs. It was awesome to see our hard workpay off and to succeed, she said.Sophomore Elizabeth Halstead was also acontributor to the teams colossal number of home runs.Hitting home runs feels great...when someone hits ahomerun on our team everyone gets hyped, and it boostseach others confidence to do well, she said. WhileHalstead was proud of her accomplishments this season,the success did not come without hard work. In additionto team practices, she practiced two hours a week with apersonal coach. My goal is to play softball in college, so Iwork hard every chance to get better, Halstead said.Benham and Halstead would not have been able toaccomplish these feats without the help of theirteammates. Im so glad I got to be a part of this teambecause we have come really far, and it only gets betterfrom here, Benham said. In order to play successfullytogether, the team bonds throughout the season both onand off the field. Benham said that the girls play a varietyof games together, including whiffle ball and numbergames, which she thought was a great way to promotefriendly competition within the team. These activities haveallowed the team to get to know each other better; a vitalpart of a team sport. Good team chemistry is a major factortowards the way Benham, Halsted, and the rest of the teamwere able to hit so many home runs this season and breaknumerous school records.Overall, the girls on the softball team have pushedthemselves further than they have in the past. Theypracticed hard and exceeded the expectations placed uponthem. Achievements are not only measured by numbersbut by overall progress. I think weve come really far as ateam, Benham said, were communicating a lot better,and we are getting way more comfortable with each otherboth on and off the field.- MAGGIE BUI\Qza:Dh-LU* by cmiso <The International Olympic Committee officiallyvoted to reinstate Womens Softball into theOlympics beginning in 2020. The IOC voted toexpel Softball after the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Thisdecision heavily affected softball as countries likeAustralia decreased funding towards softball, andsoftball players were worried about never havingthe chance to play at the Olympics.PHOTO COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONSSoftball doesnt get muchrecognition, but being anOlympic sport will help it getmore recognized and hopefullyhelp pro softball players makemore money because the wagegap between MLB and NPF ishuge.JUNIOR OLIVIAHURLEYIts amazing that the [IOC] isvoting to put softball back in theOlympics... I am so excited thatsoftball players [who will be inthe Olympics] have a chance toinspire others in playing thesport.SOPHOMOREKATHERINE GETZAPPLICATION PROCESS 4/20 CROWDS GATHER IN WASHINGTON, D.C. TO BRING AWARENESS TO SCIENCE 4/221 Athletics 1139
Source:	http://cdm17129.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/hs-bloomsouth/id/9518
Collection:	Bloomington High School South

Further information on this record can be found at its source.