The softball 2023-2024 season has started here at Washburn Rural. Emmerson Cope has played softball for 13 years and what got her into it was her older sister since she played softball and Emmerson watched her tournaments. Her favorite part is meeting all the people on the way and all the opportunities she has got. Her least favorite thing about softball is that you’re most likely to fail then succeed. Currently she is the pitcher but if she had to pick another base to pick she’d choose shortstop or third base. Her parents or her current club coaches are the people who have pushed Emmerson the most. Emmerson has committed to go to the University of Nebraska to continue her softball career. Her favorite professional players are Sis Bates or Cat Osterman. Lastly her pre game ritual is she gets dressed the same way, listens to music and warms up in the same order every time.

Alyssa Mastin has played softball since she was 4 years old and her dad is a baseball coach and she wanted to be like the players so that’s what got her into softball. She loves playing and succeeding with the friends she grew up with but she doesn’t like the mental aspect of the game. She currently plays 1st base but would like to play shortstop if she had the chance. Alyssa’s dad and grandpa have pushed them the most, they helped her by making drills for her to do. She is planning to go to K-State but not to play softball. Her favorite professional softball player is Jennie Finch. Her pre game ritual is she has to braid her hair the same way for every game.

Gabriella Martinez is a softball player here at Washburn Rural. She’s been playing softball for 11 years now. She started playing because her mom wanted her to try out T-ball and she fell in love with it. Her favorite part of softball is making lifelong memories with some of her best friends. Another thing she loves about softball is diving for balls. As most athletes, her least favorite part is conditioning. Her favorite position is second base because she gets to move around a lot and gets to dive for balls. Gabriella loves second base and wouldn’t change it if she could. Her parents, coach Bret, coach Jared, and coach Ricard have purchased her to continue with her softball career. She does not plan on playing in college. Gabriella has gone to a few camps for softball. Jocelyn Alo is her favorite professional softball player. Her pre-game ritual is doing all of her teammates’ hair.

Another softball player at Washburn is Ava Fowler. Ava has played softball for around 12, ever since T-ball. She started playing softball because her entire family is into softball and baseball. Her favorite part of softball is the memories and people she’s met through the years. Her least favorite part is the hot practices because they have to wear pants. Ava’s favorite position is third base. She used to be a catcher before it ruined her knees. If it didn’t destroy her knees she would love to go back to catching. Her teammates have pushed her the hardest. She always wants to do her best for them. Ava says team success is as important as personal success. She’s still on the fence about going to college for softball but as of now she is focusing on school. When Ava was little she went to a lot of highschool baseball camps. She doesn’t have a favorite professional softball player. Ava doesn’t really have a pre-game ritual but she loves to listen to some Nicki Minaj.