“Oh no, this is going to be bad,” I said out loud when I was put in for our third baseman in the first inning of the game.

This summer I was asked to play on the U-18 softball traveling team. Getting on the varsity traveling team as a freshman was an accomplishment for me.  One particular game that comes to mind is the one I was most nervous about.  Our varsity coach missed all three of our weekend tournaments, and this was the game that she went to.  All the varsity players were there, and I didn’t want to mess up, as I am a freshman. 

               In the first inning, I was the one who sat on the bench first because we had 10 players at the game.  Our pitcher wasn’t doing as good as she normally would, and she needed to be taken out.  This meant that our 3rd baseman needed to go pitch and that I had to go play third base.  This, of course, isn’t the spot I play on the varsity team.  Playing there in the first inning only brought my nerves up because what if I miss a ball?  Miss a throw?  Miss a run?  I had many things running through my mind at this point.  Luckily, I got through the inning without a ball that came to me, so I didn’t mess up.

               My first time up to bat I was shaking.  All the sudden I had two strikes on me and only one ball.  I step out of the box and take a quick swing.  I step back in.  I watch as she winds up, lets go of the ball, and flick her wrist.  I watch the ball come in and hit my bat and go out to right field.  I run to first base as fast as I can.  I was so excited, but I didn’t show it because I needed to play for my teammates and have my head in the game.  This was the point in the game that all my nerves went away.  I said to myself, in my head, you are good enough to play with these girls. 

               In the next inning, I go out to play in the outfield.  During the summer I played outfield, normally in left or right field.  On the JV team that year I played second base or shortstop, so it was a difference for me.  Nothing during this inning was hit out into the outfield, so I didn’t get any chance to do anything. 

               Before I know it, I am up to bat again.  At this point in the game, my confidence in myself was up.  The first two pitches that came through were balls.  I knew that the next pitch was going to be a strike, but to my advantage, it was another ball.  When I have three balls on me and no strikes, I don’t swing at the next pitch even if it is a strike.  Of course, the next pitch is a perfect strike because it always is.  I watch the last pitch leave her hands and curve up by my head.  This pitcher just gave our team a free base, and we needed to take advantage of that. 

               That inning was done when the next batter hit a ground ball and got out at first.  Our team went back out into the field, and I went to right field.  The first batter comes up, and the first pitch goes over the plate.  The bat hits the ball and it’s coming right to me.  I run as fast as I can towards the second baseman because it is in between us.  I dove in the last second and snatched the ball in my glove. 

               After that, my confidence level was going up.  Not to the point where I got cocky, but just to the point where I felt like I belonged on the team with these girls.  It was my last time up to bat.  The game had flown by already.   I feel the ball connect with my bat.  It was a solid line drive down the center.  In a split second, their shortstop ran over there and dove to grab the ball.  It was like lightening it was so fast.  She somehow, out of luck, caught the ball.   That was the last play in the game.  The game was over, and we lost by a few runs. 

               During this game, I became a better player.  I learned many things about the mindset you need to have to be a good player.  Being nervous during a game isn’t going to help you become a better player.  You need to be confident in yourself to be able to play the best you can be.  This whole game has taught me all those things.  I needed to have confidence and positivity in my head to be able to hit, catch, and even play the game.