THWACK! The sound of strong maple wood hitting cork, rubber, and leather resounds across the field as the bat connects with the softball, hitting it out of the park. Spring is just around the corner, and softball season has just begun.

Junior Payton Morris is excited for the season.

“This upcoming season is looking pretty bright for the softball team,” Morris said, “Our main goal is to make a run for state.”

Morris explains what softball is to her.

“To me, softball means family, whether it’s traveling the country with my travel team or seeing my high school teammates every day,” Morris said.

Sophomore Chailynn Davis reflects on what softball means to her.

“[Softball] means working hard, playing smart, and sisterhood,” Davis said.

Davis explains that it was her family that influenced her to join.

“I started [playing softball] because my brothers played baseball together but I couldn’t join, so I [chose to] play softball instead,” Davis said.

Junior Bailee Scruggs also found her love for softball at a young age.

“I was looking for a sport to play when my elementary school gym coach was handing out flyers for a summer league, and it sounded fun and exciting,” Scruggs said, “[Softball] means everything; Softball is like another home with another family where we all rely, trust, and support each other 1000% of the time.”

Scruggs explores what the team does to pump each other up

“[Our coach tells us to] dig deep and be a dog,” Scruggs said, “Before the first game of the season we tie a ribbon to all of our gloves as another way to feel united.”

Morris additionally explains another team tradition.

“For home runs, we have a crown and a staff,” Morris said, “We crown the home run hitter and hand them a staff, and then we get in a circle and our coach yells ‘certified’ and we yell ‘smokified’.”

Scruggs describes her favorite part of the season.

“[My favorite part is] either the very beginning [of the season] because of that anxious and exciting feeling you get being on the field for the first time in months, or near the end [of the season] where you play your hardest because you don’t know when your last game will be,” Scruggs said.

Morris adds why more girls should join softball.

“Others should play because it is honestly an amazing sport surrounded by amazing girls, and it is such an adrenaline rush and there is no other feeling like it,” Morris said.