Biola softball is back in full gear, as their opening day was Friday, Jan. 31. Last season, the team placed fourth in the PacWest conference and is approaching this season pitch by pitch.
Senior catcher and accounting major Ariana Banos said, “We’re focusing on shelling as a team, playing for one another, playing for the person next to us, because this Portage can’t be done by ourselves.”
There are nine girls out on the field who play for each other and play for the glory of God.
YOUNG TALENT
With seven new girls on a 20-man roster, the team was focusing on developing their team chemistry on and off the field.
“They’ve brought nothing but great things to the team,” said Banos, noting that the new players have contributed to the team’s growth. Although the team is younger, with seven freshmen and five sophomores, they are heading in the right direction with a roster full of potential.
A freshman psychology major and right-handed pitcher, Maddy Granados, is quickly making a name for herself in the starting rotation. Despite her freshman status, Granados showed consistency and mental maturity in the circle, throwing a complete game shutout against the Northwestern Nazarene Nighthawks on Feb. 3. Her dominance in the circle signaled that she’s one to watch this season.
Sophomore business major Kennadie Tsue is a third baseman expected to lead off this season. Last season, Tsue slashed .325/.414/.413. Tsue is a young player and is only expected to excel the more she plays the game.
“Our coaches have done a good job of saying, on the field, it doesn’t matter what age you are; you could be 18 facing a 21-year-old pitcher,” said Banos. “So not letting your age determine how well you perform on the field is really what our coaches have been telling us.
The freshmen and sophomore class play with the team veterans on the field during practice to help prepare them for what’s to expect from the collegiate level of the game. The team captains make sure that the girls are responsible, working hard, working for their teammates, being humble, and always striving to pursue excellence.
“We’re striving towards excellence because we want perfection, but that comes from practicing,” said Banos.
NEW YEAR
During the off-season, the coaches have been trying to put more depth in the circle by putting more tools into a pitcher’s toolbox, which includes more unpredictable pitches.
With a new rotation, faces and mindset — with veterans to help with the team culture — the Eagles are looking to have an exciting season.
“I think for our team to be successful would be our ability to bounce back after we fail because it’s really easy to retreat into ourselves when we fail,” said Banos. “But our coach always says, fail forward. So just finding things in that failure to learn from and work on it and move forward.”
SISTERHOOD
With new players joining the team, building chemistry has become a key factor in their success on the field.
“We have such big personalities on the team, and we’re a loud bunch, so our energy is going to be at an all-time high,” said Banos.
One important characteristic of a good team is creating an environment where teammates feel supported, ensuring the girls have everything they need. Being available is key to mentoring and providing support. The team does Bible studies and puts their teammates first with hangouts, which will help ensure the girls have a strong mindset before stepping onto the field. Whether it’s answering questions about school or offering guidance about softball, extra time is dedicated to helping.
The players are working on communication on the field and in the dugout.
“This game moves fast when you’re on the field, so being able to talk to one another,” said Banos. “I would say we do a good job of talking to each other on the field and making sure everybody’s where they need to be in communication.”
The sisterhood of the game is what Banos emphasizes and excites her most.
“Being in the dugout with my girls and just creating that sisterhood off the field because, at the end of the day, we don’t play softball, so we can have great stats or win every single game,” said Banos. “We play softball for the sisterhood, to strengthen our faith, and to bring the opposing teams that we play to show them what playing for God looks like.”
