Each year of softball teaches you many things, not only about the sport itself, but about you and the way in which you deal with life.  Softball, though it is filled with many struggles and so many failures, is also filled with many uplifting experiences.  The game is a way for us to discover and learn life lessons, to learn about the strength we have within us that maybe for a while was lost.  When you are a kid, all you know is that playing the game is what makes you happy.  It is what you do for fun.  It is what you do for entertainment.  It is what you do for joy.  As you get older, however, it becomes much more evident what is at stake.  You start to realize how much you fail.  You start to recognize your weaknesses.  You start to understand that you have the ability to be great.  And above all you start to dream of how amazing a championship can be.  And though these recognitions are what makes the game that much more valuable to us, it is also what makes us more afraid.  We start to play for the trophy.  Everyday brings you one day closer to the chance to win that national title.  It becomes the finish line, and all you can think of is how all you want to do is be the first one across.  You want victory.  That is all you know. 

But I learned something this year that was never really apparent to me before.  I had heard motivation about the subject and had even used a bit for myself, but never had it hit me as hard as it did until our season was over this year.  When all you do is dwell on the future of a championship, you lose sight of what each day can be.  You lose focus on what each practice can do for you and your team.  You lose your footing, because you forget to focus on your next step.  It is impossible to win a race if you cannot conquer the step ahead of you.  And once you fail to conquer that step, it is too late to turn back to fix it.  By that time, someone has already stolen your victory.  That is the lesson I learned from this year's season.  It is great to have a goal in mind.  In fact, it is necessary to be working toward something.  Otherwise, you will find it hard to be motivated each day.  But you cannot allow the goal to get in the way of the path leading to it.  You must focus day by day, play by play, pitch by pitch.  If you cannot do this, you cannot find success in the end.  You cannot live your life waiting for the day you can achieve the victory you have always dreamed of.  You have to live each day in a way that you can conquer it so that you know the victory is that much closer to you.  You must make sure that each step you take is better than the last.  When struggles come your way and you have to deal with failure, all you need to do is focus on the next step, conquer the next step.  Don't wait for the victory to come to you.  Go out and grab, but don't lose sight of how you are going to take hold.  Victory can only be yours if you keep your eyes on the path in front.  No need to look behind you for you have already conquered what is behind.  No need to look too far ahead, because the prize is far enough in front of you that you can only really imagine what it's like.  No need to look on the sides of you.  It will only distract you from the road.  All you are responsible for is the position that your feet are in today.  Your job is to take care of that next step.

So we are getting down to the very competitive play of conference.  Everyone is dealing with balancing the many final assignments being thrown on us by our professors and the practices and games that capture our heart and soul.  Every team is out to attain that one common goal of a national title, and each player breathes every breath thinking of this and spends every night dreaming about the possibilities.  Every athlete is stretched thin physically and emotionally and digs deep inside themselves to find the passion and fight to overcome any obstacles put in their way.  And this is when the season gets fun.

The further into the season we go, the more competitive are the games and the more our hearts feel the pressure and the roller coaster of emotions that come with it.  But these feelings, these struggles are what make the game worth playing.  It is this part of the season that reveals the teams that have the ability to fight until the bitter end, the teams that are willing to go beyond what is expected, the teams that have the heart and passion required to win a national championship.  Because at this point; it is no longer about talent.  Every team is good.  Every player has a physical edge.  The one thing that separates a winning team from a losing team at this point is the mind.  The teams that play with their hearts and souls are the ones that come out victorious.  The teams that refuse to accept defeat are the ones that come out victorious.  The teams that truly believe in their minds that they are not going to lose are the ones that come out victorious.  The heart is the most valuable weapon in this game.  Whether or not a team chooses to use this weapon is the determining factor of a victory or a defeat.

This task is hard.  It is a difficult thing to strive for excellence.  Not because excellence is so unattainable, but because it is a scary thing to try.  When you work every day with every thing you have in you so that you can reach the excellence you can almost taste, and you finally reach that goal, there is no greater feeling.  But when you give all you have and are defeated, the pain is that much worse.  It takes the breath out of you.  It leaves a hole in your gut.  It keeps you immobile and in a state of numbness.  This is not inviting.  It is miserable.  And striving for excellence is like inviting these painful feelings.  It plants the risk in your heart for the emotional struggles that come with failure.  It is not logical to set yourself up for this kind of disappointment.  No one wants that; therefore, not many will put themselves in this position.  Not many will strive for excellence.  It is simply not worth the pain.  But it is exactly this mindset that keeps so many from their goals.  It is the fear of failure that keeps many from pursuing excellence.  The teams that stand out are the teams that strive without fear.  They are not afraid of the pain that may come if failure arrives.  They are only focused on reaching excellence.  The fear is buried by the desire.  This is what the Ragin' Cajuns will strive for.  This is what will give us an edge.  This is how we will come out victorious.  Because every team works everyday on the physical game, but we focus more importantly on our mental game, our emotional game, and the preparation of our hearts.  We will win with our minds.  We will be victorious.  It is a part of our souls.

Hello everyone, 

This piece was written by my teammate Lana Bowers, but it is amazing. I read it the other day and told her I had to submit it to you, because it is perfect for what you are looking for. I hope that's ok.  I think it's really good.

Being called the best is only temporarily, allowing someone to be complacent.  So why do it? Complacency is the enemy. Doing things to please others--the enemy.

Why do I do what I do?

Because every step I take is to be the best? A.K.A.: complacent?

I don't want to be called the best. That is people putting limits on my mind, strapping it to definable standards. My standards cannot be seen. With every step I take, my standards also get higher. People who are supposed to be the "best" get written down on a list or in a book, perhaps talked about amongst people who themselves are mediocre, because while they are reading my name, they are wasting valuable time, time they could use to better themselves. I want to be known or remembered for going hard, never losing a foothold, never looking back to see how high I've gone because that will only stir either pride or self doubt--both are deadly. Money is to save, energy is to blow. When I have nothing left to give, that is when I start to grow. My energy does not have a current balance, nor can you count its worth. You can't see it or touch it because it is infinite, But only as long as my mind allows it to be.

Failure is the world saying that my energy was given in vain.

Failure is me saying that success is not the only thing to gain. Why do I do what I do? Not for your satisfaction, that is for sure. I love the journey, I love the grind. The harder it gets, the stronger I get. Another step up the mountain. My time will NOT be wasted.

Failure is my friend, pushing me to be greater. It is what holds me accountable, keeps me more honest than the false hope the world feeds me.

They don't, they won't define me. They don't know me. I am ten feet tall and bullet proof. Don't they know that? You won't shake me. My mind doesn't take a second off. My discipline is infallible, because my failure holds me accountable. Go ahead, test me. If you can catch me, you won't find me here.

I've already taken the next step.

Today's insight into the lives of the Ragin' Cajuns is a little different than normal.  I am going to let you readers in on a little team inspiration if you will.  We, as softball fans, are all familiar with the infamous "perfect game" in which a pitcher keeps anyone on the opposing team from getting on base, whether it is from a walk or a hit.  This is indeed a very exciting moment for a team, but the Ragin' Cajuns try for a different type of goal each game.  We are constantly on the hunt for something we call a "complete game." 

The Cajuns have a top-ten list, you see, of all of the things that can happen in a softball game that really pump us up.  When we complete all ten things, we call that a "complete game."  It is the ultimate pump-up that we can accomplish.  This, though it may seem easy, is a very rare task to complete.  It has only been done once as my time here as a Cajun (and though I am just a junior, that is still a lot of games to have been played... and I invented the list so we cannot judge previous games...those are the rules).  Now I'm sure you are all dying to hear what these top ten accomplishments are.  So I will give you a peak inside our team and let you know.

1. Strikeouts - When our pitcher strikes out a batter...preferably on a change-up but we are not picky.

2. Home Runs - We love when our team hits bombs. There is no comparison to the feeling you get when you see the ball fly off the bat and know instantly...BOMB!

3. Slappers Get On - We absolutely love when our slappers get on.  First of all, it is just an adrenaline rush because they always slap the ball in the gap or lay down a perfect drag to outrun the throw.  But then when they get on...you just know they're gonna score cuz they run like the wind!

4. Double Plays - When our defense turns two...it is better when it's a ball hit to third, short, or second, in which the ball is flipped to second base and then to first...but again...we are not picky.

5. Diving Catches - When our defense lays out and makes a diving catch. This can be a catcher for a foul ball; an infielder for a hard grounder in the gap, or an outfielder airborne to keep the blooper from falling...ahhh...gives us chills!

6. Steals - When our base runners successfully steal...especially home

7. Throw-Outs - When our catchers throw runners out. This includes a runner trying to steal second as well as pick-offs.

8. Non-starters - When non-starters get a chance to go in the game. And when they are productive (i.e. make a play, get a hit) it's even better.

9. Scoring - when our pinch-runners score. Now let me explain why I specified "pinch runners" and not just any runners. You see, here is the deal with pinch runners. If you are put into the game to run for anyone, that is your only chance. Once the original player is reentered, you are dead. You are no longer eligible for play (I know, it sounds terrible but it's true. Trust me on this one...I learned the hard way). So when our pinch-runners score, it is that much greater because we know they only get that one chance a game. It is their one shot to impact the game and their one goal in life (at least their softball life). And let me tell you...there is nothing greater than having the bottom of your cleat touch home plate.

10. Misc. - The tenth accomplishment is reserved for things that cannot be predicted that really pump us up. These are things that do not really happen very often, but when they do, are the things that make your heart beat out of your chest. They make you wanna jump over the brick wall, out of the dugout, and onto the field screaming...it's that intense. These are things like Karli Hubbard's catch in center field to save a potential triple in the '08 season's game against Southern Miss. She caught the ball as she ran hard into the fence. She fell to the ground and there has been speculation that she has a mild concussion...but she caught that ball. That's a Cajun! Another recent play that fits into the number 10 category also happened during the Southern Miss game. Holly Tankersley threw out a girl at first base from right field with her bionic arm. The batter hit a shot between our first and second basemen, and Holly charged the ball, scooped it up, and lasered it to Gabby Bridges for the out. That's just something you cannot predict, which is why we reserved a special place on our top ten list.

Thanks to all the fans for coming out and supporting our team. We all appreciate it more than you will ever know. Keep coming around and you're sure to witness some exciting games. We love you all and are very proud to be Ragin' Cajuns and to have such wonderful and supportive fans.