Softball

Junior Mallory Cantler is last up in a fall semester softball team blog that will pick up in  the spring season. The squad returns all but two starters from last year's team. One of the returning starters is Cantler, a two-time All-Sun Belt first baseman.

When the air turns colder permanently, and a chance of rain means a chance of snow, that means December has rolled around and taken with it yet another fall semester.  But before anyone can get too excited about the holidays, finals are a critical time for any student-athlete.  Dead week does not really seem to be dead at all; instead, it seems to be alive and kicking with all nighters spent studying and voluntary workouts to prepare ourselves for the upcoming spring season. 

Working hard through the last few weeks of fall practice has been crucial for me and my team because it is the last time that we will be able to practice as a team until we reconvene on January 13.  The last day of our fall practice was spent outside in the chilly air getting in one more round of defense before we pick it back up again after the break.  After a long fall spent inside due to the weather, everyone was excited to be out on the field working together as a team.

It seems like December should be when things begin to slow down, but before there is time to unwind for a few weeks before getting back into the full swing of things in the spring, there are so many events that we take part in this month.  The softball team here likes to get involved in community service, and all of us took part in the Salvation Army Kettle Drive.  It always seems like it waits to get really cold until right before we ring those bells! 

And then we always have an annual gift exchange as a team.  This year we chose to either make our gifts or give our Secret Santa an ornament.  My teammates sure can be creative-we had people give homemade scarves, jewelry, mosaic mirrors, and picture collages.  It is these types of activities that bring our team together, not just around the holidays, but all the time, and it is this reason that we will be one unit when the season comes.

Giving and getting presents will not be the only thing on my mind this Christmas.  My Christmas at home will be spent with my family, because when we all get to be together, you can expect a great time!  My favorite part of the holidays is getting to be with my entire family all at once, and there is nothing that can replace the time I spend with them. 

One thing that will constantly be on my mind the whole break will be how I cannot wait to get back in Denton to begin practice.  The sooner we start practice, the sooner we will begin games.  I already have a countdown in my head to February 11.  This 2009-10 team seems to be more focused than any team I have been a part of since my class has been here, and I cannot wait to see what we will do!

Happy Holidays and God Bless!

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Rebecca Waters on Life As A Senior

Ashley Kirk On Life As A Freshman