Asbury University’s softball team is currently 4- 0, having swept their opening two series against Berea College and Kentucky State University. After a pre-season marked with unexpected weather that affected their practices, this result is a win in more than one way.
One of the key members in making this happen was freshman Josie Potter. In the first game, she allowed just one earned run over the course of five innings, and struck out five batters. Her continued success in the following game earned her Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS) Rookie of the Week.
“It’s really nice to know that they trust me to be able to go out there and do my job,” said Potter.
“It’s also nice to know that I can trust them to do their job as well.”
Her experience on the team has been nothing but positive so far, and the bonding with her teammates is evident in the way they move as a group on the field. She explained that this difference and more make playing in college more fun and competitive than it was in high school.
“Everyone wants to be here, so they’re putting in their best effort and putting forth everything they have to do their absolute best,” said Potter. “It’s nice to have people that want to do it, because I do the same. I put everything I have into it.”
She chose Asbury as the best place to continue her softball career after meeting Head Coach Ally Moore at a camp and hitting it off with her.
“We just connected,” said Potter. “Then, I actually came on campus and it felt like home. The softball team is great, everyone is so nice and it’s just amazing.”
Once she moved on campus for the fall semester, the work began immediately. The softball team started practicing months ago in order to make this explosive start possible.
“Throughout the fall we were really committed to the 6 a.m. lifts and the practices, we were all committed to actually working in practice,” said Potter. “We were committed to play, committed to be there, and we’re committed to each other.”
All of those early mornings and long practices paid off once they hit the field and worked like a well oiled machine.
“Everyone was so excited,” said Potter. “We were ready to kick off the season, and it was great to kick it off with a win. It just really got our excitement up and our confidence up, too. So that’s been nice.”
To keep up momentum for the rest of the season, Potter says she plans on doing her absolute best every opportunity she gets and will continue to work and push not only herself, but also the others around her.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing how everything continues to play out and how we work together and get stronger throughout the season,” said Potter. “I’m really excited, when hopefully we get to the NCAA tournament, to be able to play that together.”
The softball team will have their first opportunity to begin earning their spot at the NCAA tournament when they match up against Piedmont University in the first CCS game of the season on March 20.
