Love it, experience it, and when you step on the field just do what you do.

--Kirk Walker, coach, Oregon State Univ.

Go hard every play. You don’t want to leave anything behind and regret it years down the road that you didn’t give it all when you could have.

--Ashley DeBuhr, pitcher, Univ. of Nebraska

We go out and work hard. We play this game with emotion and love.  Coach always says ‘Emotionally, physically, mentally -- come to the field prepared.’  Because if you don’t bring that to the field, you’re going to get beat.

--Laura Berg, outfield, Team USA

I think that certain players are going to approach the game differently.  I am more of a quiet person.  I like to have more of a focused energy and internal energy whereas some people need to be bouncing off the walls to be ready for the game.

--Caitlin Lowe, outfielder, Univ. of Arizona

We’re going to step on the field knowing that every team we’re going against is going to push their game to that whole new level that we probably hadn’t seen. ... We’ve just got to be ready to step up with them

--Crystl Bustos, third base, Team USA

Always want the ball.

--Brittany B., pitcher, Colorado

Every time you go out there, you want to be a little nervous, have a little bit of butterflies in your stomach and get the juices flowing.

--Taryne Mowatt, pitcher, Univ. of Arizona

(On the College World Series) It’s not about the seedings, it’s not about the bats. It’s about these 18 young ladies on each team and how bad they want to win.

--Ralph Weekly, coach, Univ. of Tennessee

(On dealing with a loss) We will live for tomorrow and come out tomorrow ready to play.

--John Rittman, coach, Stanford

It's a game of making great pitches at the right time, being opportunistic by getting a run at the right time and playing good defense.

--Mike Candrea, coach, Team USA

It’s always about wanting to one-up myself from the day before. There’s never an absolute 100% perfect performance, but going out and striving for that perfect performance is what keeps me going.

--Cat Osterman, pitcher, Team USA (click to see interview)

I make my weaknesses my strengths and my strengths stronger.

---Lisa Fernandez, pitcher, Team USA

(On being an underdog and coming from behind to win)  What I love about the game is that the game doesn't know who is supposed to win.

--Sue Enquist, coach, UCLA

By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.

--Giselle C., shortstop, California 

It’s not how good you are, it’s how bad you want it.

--K., softball player

Dream big and work hard.  Play with passion and the sky is the limit.  Fastpitch rocks!

--Jennie K., catcher, Arizona

When I step into batter’s box, the fans, the noise, the cheers, they all disappear.  For that moment, the world is just a battle between me and the pitcher.  And more than anything, I want to win.

--Mary W., second base, California

As teammates, we are always there for one another ... everyone has everyone’s back.

--Whitney Barrett, infield, University of Nebraska

Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.

--A., softball player

In softball . . . , the softball gods giveth and the softball gods taketh away, but that evens out over the season.

--Yvette Girouard, Coach, LSU

Play the game you love, and love the game you play!

--H., softball player

My responsibility for my team is to make them play for the team on the front of the jersey not the back.

--Unknown

Play every softball game like it is your last!

--J., softball player

I am now, and will always be me. But when it comes time to step out onto that field, me gets a little more dedicated, a little more serious, and nobody stands in my way.

 --Caitlin Sumpter, Catcher, Kansas

It's not just any sport, it's not just throwing a ball, hitting and running.  I live with the cheering of my players while I'm up to bat. I live with the red stitches of the softball rubbing against my fingers when I snap my wrist and let it fly.  I live with mistakes every day in it, and I live learning them.  I live on the pitchers mound where I need complete confidence in my self.  I live with snapping my wrist to the catcher and getting the batter out, a perfect strike.  I live not only for my teammates, but for my self.  I live for fastpitch softball.

--K.M., pitcher

Why?

Early Mornings,

Dew soaked shoes,

Sticky afternoons,

Sweat,

Dust in your face,

Rain,

Wind....

Never enough sleep, long boring rides,

Giving it your best and still coming up short........

Because.....

Time slows down... everything you do is right, you and your teammates find a rhythm...... the bliss of cold water.... good nachos, cheering.... your score keeps climbing, you suddenly notice your laughing and

love what your doing......

you wonder why everybody, everywhere isn’t playing everyday they can.

--Rick Vitiello, Illinois