With an early exit at the Mid-American Conference tournament and the offseason underway, Ohio softball players have limited options to stay competitive during the summer.
Players on the Ohio baseball team have many options, such as playing for the Southern Ohio Copperheads, a collegiate summer baseball team, but those types of opportunities for softball players are rare.
Since the end of the season, the Bobcats have been partaking in individual-focused workouts on special aspects of their game, as well as team strength and conditioning drills. But as far as competition goes, most players will not compete again for months.
Players are allowed to compete on teams in 23-and-under leagues near their hometowns, but the teams are sporadic in the areas most Bobcats reside.
“I live in Utah and there aren’t any leagues around me to compete in,” first baseman Raven King said. “This will be the first summer ever that I won’t be playing competitive softball all summer, since leagues end at age 19 here.”
King will not be the only Bobcat not playing for a competitive team this summer, as only Adrienne Gebele, Sadie Wallace and Caitlin Colvin plan to continue in competition.
Other options do exist for players to stay on top of their game, though. Players normally will continue to practice with travel teams they competed on in previous years, which allows for more focus on the individual.
“Due to lack of availability of competitive teams, almost everyone is left training on their own,” head coach Jodi Hermanek said. “It’s not a bad thing, though. It really helps the players slow down and get in good, individual workouts.”
While every player is expected to continue focusing on developing their play, pitchers have the heaviest regiment of work during the off-season. Each pitcher is given a calendar of workouts and bullpen sessions that need to be completed to keep their arms in shape during the break.
Aside from the fundamentals of the game, players are also expected to continue the strength and conditioning program that is given to them by the team’s strength coach.
“Playing in the summer is not very predominant in this sport, but we still need to stay in shape,” Hermanek said. “Every player is given a workout schedule and is expected to stay fit and pin-point some small things we want to work on.”
Players are held responsible with keeping themselves in top condition during the offseason, but for some players, it can be hard to always stay motivated while away from the team.
For others, like King who broke Ohio’s single-season home record this year, they find the opposite to be true and enjoy solitude.
“It is actually easier for me to stay focused when I am at home,” King said. “It is fun and relaxed, and reminds me why I love the game of softball and playing with my team.”
When school resumes in August, Hermanek said players will regroup for workouts and individual practices once classes get settled down. Then, the team is given a 30-day period to practice together and play an eight-game schedule to see the team’s progress.
With the beginning of next season still far away, players have plenty on their plate to stay active, even if they are not competing on the field.
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