The fall season for the Warhawks’ softball team generated excitement for the spring. The 2024 season ended with a record of 31-24 and 12-12 in the Sun Belt Conference.

Coach Molly Fichtner shared her thoughts on starting a new season, mentioning challenges the team faced this fall. 

“When you’re coming out from the summer, you got some cobwebs to kind of get off,” Fichtner said. 

She highlighted the importance of communication and understanding between players, which Fichtner felt became “huge towards the end of the season.”  

Even with these difficulties, Fichtner praised the team’s overall progress.

“I do think, as a unit in every facet, we improve from the first practice in the fall to even now,” Fichtner said. 

With four players graduating in May, the team faces a bittersweet journey ahead. Despite this, Fichtner highlighted the girls’ close bond. The players leave the facility together, cook meals together and do team activities without the need for coach intervention.

One trait she spots in all her players is a passion and love for competition.

“They all want to win,” Fichtner said. “Off the field, they give to the community more than any team I’ve ever coached. That’s a huge trait in our program and it’s because of them and the alums that came before them.”

Though the team talks business on the field, they still have their fair share of relatable moments. When asked about her favorite part of the season, Fichtner mentioned a particular drill called “position appreciation.”

“We will grab maybe an outfielder or pitcher and put catching gear on them. You might have a pitcher playing center field or a catcher at shortstop,” Fichtner said.

Fichtner recalled a lighthearted moment from the drill. 

“We put one of our sophomores in catching gear. She came behind the plate, tried to squat and she fell over. She could not get her balance,” Fichtner said.

The drill may add some humor to practices, but Fichtner focuses firmly on the team’s drive and discipline. Regardless of the opponent, she and her players approach every game with the same level of determination, relying on their preparation and prior experience. 

“It doesn’t matter who’s on the other side of the pitch,” Fichtner said. “We want to win and we’re going to do everything we can to put ourselves in a position to do that.”

As the team gears up for the spring, Fichtner encourages the team to take chances and embrace new opportunities. 

Fichtner shared a motivational quote during the practice: “If you want to do something that you’ve never done before, you must be willing to do something you’ve never done.” 

She believes her team embodies this quality.

“I do believe with my whole heart that they can take this program further than it’s ever been,” Fichtner said.

Join the Warhawks for their first game of the season against Lamar University on Feb. 7.