We are now 10 games into our conference play and have 10 wins under our belts.  Lock Haven softball is trucking along and I am just trying to put my foot down to slow the ride down just a bit.

Yesterday, April 2, our pitcher Kristen Erb made NCAA Division II history.  She now has the most wins in all of DII softball!!!  Absolutely incredible.  I couldn't be more proud of that girl and more honored to have been able to share the softball diamond with her for the past 4 years.  In the huddle after defeating Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and Erb making history, I have to admit I had some tears rolling down my cheeks.  I was overly excited for Erb, thrilled that we had just beaten a team who has always given us a good fight, and I was very sad because for the first time this year, I realized that my softball and college careers are almost over.  It hit me like a ton of bricks, and it was very unexpected.  I look at the girls around me who have become my family and to think about not seeing them everyday like I have for the past 1,2,3, or 4 years makes me sick to my stomach.  I am doing my best to live up this last season and spend as much time with these girls who have become my sisters.

LHU softball is now 25-4 and it feels extraordinary.  We are having so much fun playing together, we stay relaxed, laugh ALL of the time, and we play for each other... which I think is the key to our success.

We played Clarion on March 31^st and I'm just going to come right out and say it, our righty-turned-lefty slapper Julia Popovich was turned back around to hit from the right side for the FIRST TIME in 4 years, and her FIRST PITCH went sailing over the left field fence!  We are all so proud of her because she always said she was the only player in the line-up who didn't have a homerun, and she hit TWO that day!  Go Julia!

Tonight we are traveling to West Chester to stay over and play them tomorrow afternoon.  West Chester is actually the hometown to me and our center fielder Nancy O'Connor.  So tonight we are going to my house for dinner and we get the opportunity to spend time with some parents and friends who can make the trip.  I am very excited to play in my hometown, and I'm hoping that many of the people that Nancy and I know can make it to our game to support our team. 

On Wednesday, March 25, Lock Haven University held a talent show called "Haven's Got Talent".  This event was for all sports teams so show that they have other talents off the court, field, track, and pool.  All proceeds were donated to Make-A-Wish foundation and the night was a complete success.  Not only was it a success because of how much fun it was... LHU softball won MOST ENTERTAINING!!  The act that won most talented sang a song and they actually deserved most talented, but we'll take most entertaining!  Ilia, Roosa, Julia, Kirsten, Gut, and I performed a dance to a mix of songs, and might I say that we were AWESOME!  The other acts were very good, there were other dances, skits, and singers, but the Dugout Divas, (our stage name) took home the trophy and the title of most entertaining!

For the answer to the Trivia Question from last blog... Nancy O'Connor, Krystin Montoro, and I have been playing on the same softball team since we were 11.  All three of us played for the Chester County Lady Fireballs for our entire travel ball careers, and now we are spending our college years playing softball together as well! 

This past week has been jam packed with games and we still have two on Saturday and two on Sunday.  Our game schedule makes the time fly so we are holding on tight and enjoying the ride, not many people can say they get to play the game they love, with all the people they love, for the coaches they love.  It's a great recipe for success and we love every minute of it!

Sarah #22