Summer Goals

Each day presents an opportunity to get better. During the summer that opportunity is even greater because of how many more games you play and how much more time you have on your hands. This summer I have made three goals for myself. 1) I want to get better at hitting the ball to all fields with power, 2) I want to utilize the extra training time to get stronger, faster and more agile, and 3) I want to challenge my development of the mental understanding of the game and absorb as much as possible from each situation and each game.

Hitting - Any good hitter can pull the ball with power. The difference between good and great is being able to hit the ball anywhere it is pitched with authority. I want to make myself a threat and be able to hit to all fields with power. Right now I am becoming better at going with the pitch and driving it to right field. But my goal is to be able to hit the ball just as hard and far to right as I can to left. That way when you step into the box the pitcher doesn't know where to pitch you. No matter where it is, if they throw a strike, you have the ability to make them pay.

Training - I have always been active in sports and weightlifting. But this summer I want to take my fitness to a whole different level. I want to be stronger, faster, and more agile. To do this I will be participating in speed and agility training at the athletic club in Rochester along with my lifting workouts. Also, I have been able to overcome athletic situations which require core strength and balance with aggressiveness and force. But at the next level just the talent that you were born with and determination isn't enough. To increase my balance and agility I am starting to do yoga! It is much much harder than I ever expected it to be, “ isn't it just stretching?” No, it is much more and I can tell that it is going to benefit me in the long run.

Mental Understanding - My last goal is to develop my mental understanding and absorb as much as possible from each situation in each game. Even though most teenagers like to think they know everything, I know that is definitely not the case. I have so much to learn about life and especially about softball. This is the first full year that I will be playing with the Danes. Just playing in the fall and domeball seasons I learned so much from them. I want to take the advantage of all of the knowledge of the game around me, ask questions, listen and learn, learn, learn.