Northwestern University Athletics
"B1G Opening Weekend At The J" - By Sydney Supple
3/24/2023 10:10:00 AM | Softball
Good morning Evanston,
We are back on The J today, so bundle up and head to the field as we open up our first Big Ten Series vs. the Minnesota Gophers!
For those of you who followed the games this past weekend, what a time it was in Oklahoma City! For starters, to have the opportunity to step back on the same field we played on for the Women's College World Series was surreal. To remember all of the memories and feelings that took place this past June and to now have time to take it all in from the stadium, and the entire environment, and make ourselves at home in the World Capital of Softball was special. As a softball player that stadium is the pinnacle in a lot of ways. It represents all of the legends that played before us and is living proof of how much the sport of softball is growing by the bleachers that keep expanding. For our team to have multiple opportunities to play on that field is a blessing that we will always hold onto, but we have not fulfilled our fix of it yet and are working to be back on that field in June.
Every game we played last weekend was a fight that will serve us well in conference play. Up until that point as a team, we have been working to find our identity. Last weekend we learned exactly what our identity was: our grittiness until the very end of a game, the belief that we can win until the last pitch is thrown, confidence in ourselves, and even more importantly trust in the person next to us. Playing last weekend was joyful because we found who we are, and now that will be the standard of every game moving forward. I walked away this past weekend proud to be a part of a team who has so much fighting spirit in them to come back twice. Even with one game when we were down by four runs with two outs in the bottom of the seventh…that doesn't happen without belief.
The other part of our joy came from the happiness that was present throughout the entire dugout by being able to celebrate the victories of our teammates. For the rest of the season, I challenge you to watch when a home run is hit and focus on the players standing at home plate. I promise that the light that shines from the biggest smiles on their faces waiting to hug their teammate will fill your heart the same way it fills mine.
Lastly, we have been waiting for this moment as long as you all have been. To be able to be on our home field for the Big Ten Season opener and to share it with you all. We left The J last season in Regionals feeling an undeniable wave of support from the entire community that we can not wait to embrace again. Let's rewrite this story together and do this again 'Cats Fans! As always I feel lucky to be on this journey with you all.
Sincerely,
Sydney #26
