MythBusters: Myth #3 Helias Softball Will Win a State Championship in 2008

This post is a tad selfish, as it relates to a team that I work with, but whether you are part of Helias softball or not this post may still hold some relevance for you.


What does it take to win a state championship? What are the necessary components a team must have in order to be a championship team?

The Physical:

Pitching- It is essential to be able to put the ball over the plate, but the person behind the ball has to be more than a strike throwing machine. They have to be smart, resilient, persistent, calm, and have the confidence of a center-stage performer.....because on the softball field, the pitcher is center-stage. Of course a pitcher's best friend is her...

Defense- Players in every position willing to put in the time in practice, working through repetitious drills with enthusiasm. Players who when the game is on the line are thinking, "Hit the ball to me!" Not because they do not have confidence in their teammates, but because they have the utmost confidence in their ability to get the job done. Players not looking to make the flashy plays that everyone will talk about, but the routine plays that occur much more frequently and really make a difference in the game. Defense is the foundation of every team and is supported by the...

Offense- Nothing relaxes a defense more than runs on the board. In order to have a great offense, players, who once they step in the batters box, have to be willing to battle EVERY pitch. There can be no time off at the plate. Focus, patience, and doing whatever they can to help the team is of the utmost importance. If a player goes down swinging, which will happen no matter how good of a hitter you are, that player needs to stow the helmet and bat and cheer on the teammate that follows them. Sulking over a bad at bat is selfish and does the player and the team no good. If a player hits a homerun, they celebrate with their teammates from homeplate to the dugout and then they immediately start cheering on their teammate at the plate. Again, a continual celebration is selfish, it takes away from the teammate at the plate, and it may also be seen as showing up the pitcher. A championship team battles to win every inning no matter what the score.

The Mental:

The only way all of the physical categories above can work together is if the team is mentally conditioned. Without a trained mind and a team-first attitude, softball becomes a selfish individual sport where players are more concerned about how they are doing individually over how the team is doing. Players working together for a common purpose, for common goals, is a must. Players who are mentally mature enough to know that, although they cannot control the result of any game, they can control their preparation, and more often than not the more prepared , mentally and physically prepared, team has a lot better chance of achieving the outcome they desire.

So, will Helias Softball win a state championship?
To call our pitching, "average high school pitching," would be an insult. We have the ability in the circle to take us as far as we want to go. There will be good speed in the outfield and sure hands on the infield. The power of the offense and speed on the base paths will be matched by few. There are 7 months before the season officially begins. Will leaders arise? Will the players know the importance of preparing mentally? Will the proper attitude be in place well before the season begins? All questions that remain to be answered, but as for my own personal opinion...I say, "Yes." Yes to each and every question.


"Two elements are necessary for effective teamwork. First, the individuals who constitute the team must share a common objective, one that is important enough to them that they are willing to make sacrifices in order to achieve it. Second, team members need to care about each other in a way that eventually leads to selflessness and a common concern for others on the team." Tom Osborne, former Nebraska Football Coach

MythBusters: Myth #3 Helias Softball Will Win a State Championship in 2008.....Plausible