Players and coaches from the Conestoga softball team shared their thoughts on the season, the sport, and what it means to be a part of the team.

This season, the Conestoga softball team faced its fair share of challenges, from slow starts in early innings to building chemistry between players from two different schools. Players and coaches say mental toughness, communication, and staying positive have been key to their growth.

“Keeping confidence up is the hardest part, especially when we play tough teams,” said freshmen Sydney W. “But, we’ve gotten better at communication, and that’s helped us push through.”

Staying focused during high-pressure moments is another area where players say they’ve improved.

“I don’t really think about the pressure, I do better with it,” said freshmen Emma R. “I tell myself ‘I got this, I can do this,’ and I try to hype everyone else up too.”

Coach ReAnn Schreiner has also noticed that the team is learning to shake off mistakes more quickly and maintain momentum.

“They’re getting better at handling pressure,” Schreiner said, “We talk about not letting errors spiral. It’s about bouncing back fast and moving on.”

Even though the team’s record may not fully reflect their effort, the coach and players agree that the growth is undeniable, both as athletes and teammates. “The season goes by fast, and the record doesn’t always show how hard we’re playing,” Shreiner said. “But the improvement is there, and I’m proud of what they’ve done.”