Prior to the final practice before the start of the 2023 season, head coach Pete D'Amour as well as Emma Lemley, Emma Ritter, Cameron Fagan and Meredith Slaw spoke to the media. The team previews the upcoming season starting this Thursday. Read below the highlights of what was said.
Head coach Pete D'Amour
The excitement level of this coming season:
"Oh, there's always some anxiety going into the new year. We had a really good practice last night. We've had a good five weeks of practice actually, we're ready."
The improvement of Emma Lemley:
She's throwing hard, she's spinning the ball up as well as she ever has, change up is better than last year, so is the drop ball. You don't have to just sit on the rise ball and you can't just sit on the rise ball, it's pretty devastating. There are some times when we go out in our scrimmages and she just demolishes, it's a good problem to have."
Pitcher, Emma Lemley
The excitement level of this coming season:
"We're really excited. I'm definitely so excited to get out there. Last season, we were really close to getting out to Oklahoma City and so I think this year, we're just going in with the same enthusiasm and excitement to try to make it a good season."
Outfielder, Emma Ritter
How the team is improving:
"So for softball, it's sometimes just one miss hit, or one bad play that can change the whole ending of the game, so just making sure that we control each small moment, so we can have the big outcome in the end. We've been working really hard in the fall and into the spring. We've been grinding in the weight room and having tough practices, so I think we're ready. I think the more that we play and the more that we get to play as a team, the more ready we'll be."
Infielder, Meredith Slaw
How the energy in TSP has changed throughout the years:
"Starting from my first year if we played UVA, we had maybe half or a third of the stadium filled. Last year, I think UVA was almost sold out if not sold out and the stands were full. To be here in Regionals and Super Regionals and having those extra bleachers and them completely full, it's just been so wild a change and it's really good for this program and this school. I'm so happy it's growing the way it is."
Infielder, Cameron Fagan
On her role as a leader:
"I think my role as a leader is just trying to lead by example, trying to be positive and just be a competitor and hoping that the younger girls fall in line with that. I think all of us older girls, that's kind of the route we tried to take in leading by example."