ALANA WINGATE
Staff Writer
After several weeks of preparation, the Fredonia softball team is getting back into the swing of things and preparing to start a new season. Before traveling north, the squad will play 12 games in central Florida to kick off the season.
Tony Ciccarello, the team’s head coach, welcomed back existing players as well as several newcomers this season. He expressed excitement for the new season and what lies ahead.
“I am looking forward to seeing the team ‘grow’ together and achieve success,” Ciccarello said. “There is a lot of inexperience, due to graduation, at a few of the positions.”
Several of the team’s players started playing softball at a young age, such as Emily Chelius, a senior early childhood education major and pitcher/outfielder.
“I was like eight or nine when I started playing and I actually started playing with Marisa when we were that age,” Chelius said. “We’ve known each other a really long time, and we still get to play with each other now.”
Despite having a large number of girls with extensive softball experience on the team, the team makes sure to provide those with less experience the opportunity to grow and learn in a friendly environment.
“Coming in as a freshman, you are all scared, but you know you have a family coming in. We’re all really, really close. We see each other every day. So just having that support [is great],” said fifth-year senior Marisa Sultana, an outfielder majoring in early childhood education.
Ciccarello spoke about the team’s camaraderie.
“We have only been practicing for a month and haven’t played any games,” Ciccarello said. “But hearing returners teach the first-year players, the same players who want to beat them out for a starting position [shows our team values].”
Team bonding is a priority, and the team thinks that it is crucial to sports culture. The team frequently welcomes new players each year after others leave.
“The team culture is great. They support each other and help each other improve their game,” Ciccarello said.
Chelius reflected on her team’s attitude towards beginning players.
“We just always make sure that we’re welcoming. From the start, we’re always asking if you need anything and we show people around,” Chelius said. “Even just breaking down practice sometimes, because as frustrating as it may be, to have to break down drills and stuff and slow it down, we know it’s beneficial for the team.”
Considering the team’s preseason practice schedule and the other hours of work put in to build their foundation as a unit, the coach feels the team is looking good.
“Pre-season is going well. We leave next Friday to play our first games in Florida,” Ciccarello said. “Players are improving, and the first-year players are learning our system.”
The team players are also feeling confident for the upcoming season.
“I am really having fun with this team. The best part of my day is when we practice. They want to learn and get better,” Ciccarello said. “They are competing for playing time and working together to improve as a team. They want to be successful.”
According to the athletes, the path to excellence has not been simple or easy.
“We have morning practice at least twice a week, which is like Monday and Wednesday. Sometimes they’re at 6:30 a.m. and sometimes they’re at 7 a.m., but we have to be there 15 minutes early,” Chelius said. “I think the hardest part would just be waking up. But once we’re there, everyone’s excited and like the energy’s there and … you forget that you’re up so early in the morning, so it’s not as annoying as it seems.”
Due to online schooling, some of the players missed a year of play during the pandemic. They said this had a significant impact on them as a team. But, as a result of this, those who lost the covid season are permitted to play again to make up for it if they so desire.
“I’m actually in my third semester of grad school so we’re allowed to play technically like a fifth year of softball because of COVID,” Sultana said.
Even though some athletes are getting a year of play back that was once stolen by the pandemic, Chelius reflected on how hard it was to come back from the unexpected off season.
“I think coming back from COVID was really hard because during that break we had to really push ourselves to work on softball alone and not really with a coach or our teammates,” Chelius said. “Coming back was just really challenging because you go from doing nothing or a few things here and there to you’re right back into it. It’s like you never stopped playing when you got back here, but honestly it was worth it.”
Several of the player’s time with the Devils will come to an end this year. Even though the end is close, Victoria Pauwels, a senior infielder and exercise science major, expressed excitement about her last season.
“I’m excited because it’s my last season. The people we’re going to be playing with on the field … we have a really good team dynamic,” Pauwels said. “I’m just really excited because I feel like we’re going to have a really fun time. I also think we’re going to be pretty decent this year too, within our conference, so I’m excited about that.”
Although some players will soon have to part ways, they treasure the special times they had with the team.
“I think Florida is very memorable, and we have so many memories. But I also enjoy the bus rides with each other because I feel like it just creates a bond,” Chelius said. “Yes, we spend a lot of time together. Driving on the bus and staying in a hotel are just fun memories that I feel like we won’t get back because we won’t be playing softball forever.”
In the end, the players agree that the most important lesson they will remember is to not take time on the team for granted because it won’t last forever.
“I’ve learned to not take this sport and college in general for granted because time goes by really, really quickly,” Sultana said. “So, take every practice seriously and have fun with it because it’s going to be gone before you know it.”
The Devils’ first two games of the year are against Rowan University and Western New England University on Saturday, March 11. There will be a total of six doubleheaders with 12 different opponents. Visit https://fredoniabluedevils.com/sports/softball to keep up with the team’s development this season.