Northwestern University Athletics
Blog Entry #16
4/17/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 17, 2009
Cats!
I hope this blog finds everyone good and ready on the eve of a HUGE double header vs. Iowa tomorrow!! It is our Chipotle BIG GAME where the first 50 NU students to show up get FREE Chipotle Burrito coupons, and one lucky fan will win a full free quarter of free burritos!!! I mean, who doesn't love a free burrito!
The last time I wrote, we were about to play a Wednesday double header vs. Minnesota. In game number one, although we had a slow start, we pulled out for a good win. The second game however, did not go as planned. We ended up losing, which was a really big disappointment for our team. We struggled in a couple different areas and just did not have the guts to pull ourselves together in time. Since then, we've had a ton of time to reflect and think about our loss and how we will rebound from it.
With that, our last six or seven practices have had a focus on attacking the second half of the Big Ten. So, naturally, we decided to do this by lifting as much as possible!!! This is our secret to success! Ask any softball alum, and they will tell you this is no joke. The only way our team puts as many balls over the fence as we do is because of our work in the weight room. We owe a lot of our success to our strength & conditioning coach, Jason Pullara. Jason is a critical part of our program, who is with us through all the good and bad. He runs the BEST agilities known to man, and is responsible for making all of us physically and mentally stronger. We know it's going to be a good day when we get to see Jason's beautiful face walk through those turf room doors. We love ya J!!!! Along with our lifting, the team spent a lot of time on defensive plays and communication on the field, all of which will help to prepare us for our upcoming Big Ten games.
This last weekend, the team was off from playing games. Coincidentally, it was Easter! We had early morning practice on Saturday and were given Easter Sunday off. A lot of the local girls were able to take a day away from campus and spend Easter with family. Kelly and I drove back home and on Saturday night, we attended a fundraiser for my brother's baseball team, a candle light bowl! My older sister and her fiancé were there and we all got to bowl and talk about some of their upcoming wedding plans. Easter Sunday we got to lounge around the house, visit with more family, and eat a wonderfully home cooked meal! All in all, it was a nice weekend. As we returned to campus, we got right back to practice, and began our preparations for Iowa. Sitting here tonight, I believe the team is completely prepared and ready to finally play ball. Let the second half of the Big Ten begin!
So, once again, we play IOWA tomorrow @ 2 and 4!! Also, our baseball team plays at U.S. Cellular Field vs. Notre Dame tomorrow @ 7:05 pm!!! A bunch of the girls are planning on making the trip to Soxside to see our guys beat Notre Dame!!! Good Luck guys!
P.S. .... Happy Opening Day to all baseball fans. A brand new baseball season is here!! Sorry to all you Cubs fans out there, but the Sox are taking it all this year. We look GOOOOD! WO WOO!
Live the dream, Go `Cats!
-little guy
