With the arrival of spring comes some of Parkland’s most highly anticipated sports: softball and baseball. Players have been getting ready for the season since before wintertime, attending weekly intramurals to improve their skills in preparation for school ball. Both teams are looking promising, and there is a lot to look forward to in the upcoming season. Serena Reed, a varsity player, told The Trumpet, “I am so excited for the upcoming games. I love seeing how well our team comes together.”

Though fans may be excited, the players are the ones who have been counting the days until their first games in months. Amelia Dawson (11), who plays on the varsity softball team, shared her thoughts with The Trumpet, expressing, “We all have worked so hard all fall and winter for this moment, and we deserve all the success I know will come to us. If we continue to work together I know that this season is going to be stellar.”

Among players, one of the most cherished parts of the sport is the bonds made within the team. Teammates become practically inseparable over the season and become like siblings to one another. Emma Kushner (11), a varsity softball player, told The Trumpet, “My favorite part about playing on the school team is being a part of something I can call a family. The friendships created with my teammates are so special and something that I will never let go.” 

Another crucial part of the sport that makes it what it is is the infamous cheering that helps players and fans alike keep enough energy to push through the game. Cheering keeps players’ spirits high and encourages teammates when they are down. Players have used softball cheers since their days in recreational sports, and have evolved along with them. Though group chants are hardly used at the high school level, players still pour their hearts into their cheers for their teammates.

The majority of players mention looking forward to the Emmaus and North Hampton games the most, as they are both formidable opponents and will no doubt make for a nail-biting game. Even so, the teammates are confident in their abilities as a team and sure that if they work together, they will be able to beat even the best of teams.