Softball is a fast-paced game that is sometimes mistaken for baseball. However, they each have their respective differences– from the basic rules, the type of ball that is used, and even how the players play the game.
“For starters, we play with a bigger ball and it is bright yellow, and softball pitchers have a big windup and pitch underhand compared to baseball where they pitch overhand,” Student athlete Audrey Fleming, a Human Development major and senior said. “In softball, you cannot take a lead off the base before the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand– if you do, you’re out.”
Softball games typically last about seven innings but can last much longer. An inning consists of two rounds when two teams that are against each other take turns to bat and field, said Fleming.
Although Fleming grew up in a military family and moved from place to place often, she considered Forth Worth to be her hometown. After high school, she was recruited to play softball for Lamar. There were several factors that played a role in her decision, such as the coaches at LU and the goals of LU’s softball team.
“I chose Lamar because it was different from where I was back home, I felt like I could thrive here, and I really liked the atmosphere,” Fleming said. “Campus has such a cozy feel, and coming here just felt right.”
As she grew up, aside from playing softball Fleming played other sports like basketball and volleyball. She strove to be the best in all she did and softball became her favorite sport.
“One of my biggest passions is softball– I strive to be the best and when it gets challenging the fans, coaches, and teammates are what make it worth it,” she said. “I love how competitive it is and to me, it just feels like second nature.”
However, being an LU student-athlete is not always easy, and with that comes pros and cons.
“Being a student came first– it is very important that (our) grades are good so that we could play and for me, that was the hardest part of every semester,” she said. “When I was a sophomore, I had to travel a lot, and being able to do classwork while on the road can be a bit stressful, so trying to manage that stress in the right way was a big struggle.”
Despite any hardships and stress that can come from juggling her time between academics and sports, Fleming found a way to help her balance them out.
“At the end of the day, it is just a game and this game that I love to play does not define who I am,” Fleming said. “It will get tough at times and what helps me stay calm when the game gets too big is to remember why I play or who I am playing for.”
While in a team, players can get the opportunity to make new connections and form new relationships or bonds.
“My softball team is like one big family– we are all like sisters and just like sisters, we do not always get along but what I like about my team is that we can play for each other no matter the situation,” she said. “The relationships made with teammates, coaches, and classmates along the way are one of the most valuable things to me.”
Aside from the relationships that can be made, there are other rewarding aspects to being part of the LU softball team.
“Being there in the team and playing for Lamar is proof of what you can do– your own hard work you put in to win in the classroom and the field led to that,” she said. “The communities love and respect you and having a fan base that loves to watch you play is the best feeling.”
To help achieve success, Fleming’s softball team has formed a culture that every player is expected to uphold and be a part of.
“We have started to build a culture surrounded by waking up for someone else– I think of my team as a tiny army and we make sure no man is left behind,” the student-athlete said. “Our softball team will not be successful if everyone plays for themselves so we take pride in playing for someone else and taking the pressure off of each other.”
When off the field, Fleming likes to spend her free time learning new languages such as Korean, spending time with her friends and loved ones, and playing softball whenever she can.
“I have always wanted to be bilingual and my dad, being a marine, had spent time in Korea for about a year and inspired me to learn Korean,” she said.
Eventually, Fleming hopes to become a polyglot and continue to play softball after college but her dreams do not end there.
“The biggest goal that I wish to achieve is to teach abroad and travel to as many places as possible while immersing myself in the cultures that I visit as much as possible,” she said.
When it comes to academics, Fleming found that when she was faced with challenges in the classroom utilizing Lamar’s resources as much as she could helped her immensely.
“I talk to teammates to see if they’ve had a class I’m taking before, I do tutoring when I need it, and touching base with my teachers often has helped me a lot,” she said. “Something that I’ve learned that I hold onto nowadays is that success is never as much fun as the struggle– so do not be discouraged if the ball doesn’t land in your court.”
Ambour Leal 