By Peyton Lutz
An open note card, a ballpoint pen, and twenty-three girls gather in a huddle before every game with big goals. To an average person, a note card wouldn’t catch their attention, or even give them the idea of softball. However, to the Cass Wildcats softball team, note cards hold nearly the same value as playing time.
The note cards hold more than just face value; they reflect the individual and team goals throughout the season. Coach Vrtiska, the Cats' first-year head coach, speaks about how each person's card was unique.
“We told them it’s personal… it’s for you. What do you want to get better at, what do you want to reach? Whether it’s softball, technique related or not, just making it impactful for them.”
The personal goals ranged from swinging the bat sooner to throwing the ball in from the outfield perfectly almost every time. Some people simply chose to field the ball cleanly and have confidence going into games.
These goals changed towards the end of the season just several weeks before going into sub-districts against Skutt Catholic. The team collectively created three main goals: enjoy every moment, don’t sweat the little things, and simply go out and have fun. Revising these goals as a team allowed them to focus and enjoy their last weeks together. The coaches decided to review and recreate the goals, for it would allow the players to find their mentality from once before.
“We were kind of going downhill and we wanted to reevaluate and to have a better outlook going forward. To change our mentality, to switch up the last half of the season. I think it’s been really impactful, and we’re all in a better head space, coaches and players included,” said Vrtiska.
With the help of the note cards, it helped inspire girls to step up and take on leadership roles. With new leaders defined, that helped build a stronger and more connected team.
Faith Hillabrand, a junior at Louisville, explains, “This year, the team works really well together compared to last year. Last year, you could tell the divide between schools, but this year we all looked like one team, we played as one team.”
Not only did the girls play as one team, they grew as one. Hillabrand says how the atmosphere switched once they brought in the chants.
“Start of the game would be kind of drowsy, but then we started yelling and cheering for our teammates. That would get them going, and if they hit the ball then we would start a streak. So just the adrenaline going through and everyone cheering really helps us.”
Overall, there were many changes this season that led to a newer atmosphere and outcome of the Wildcats season. By bringing in the note cards, adding in new chants, and leadership roles being filled, it helped lead to a better outcome for the Wildcats.
As Vrtiska said, “We’re growing and we’re getting better, and we’re going to celebrate the little things, no matter the outcome.”