You sit in the stands of the final state championship softball game and your team needs one out, one pitch, to take home the trophy. If we were to be put in the stands, we would all disregard everything about the players feelings and just think, “please do the right thing, please don’t be dumb.”  But we must remember these players have committed as much time in a day to getting better at softball as they do to homework.  

For PLHS Athlete Brooke Dumont and the rest of the softball team, finding a balance between softball and schoolwork, especially when state is around the corner, is very crucial.  

“Our schedule changes a lot because we miss 3 days of school in a row and we have to make sure we ask out teacher for homework and stay up to date with class. It’s hard to stay ahead of schedule when you miss a lot of school,” Dumont said.  

She is no stranger to the sport or the pressure it brings, but she admits it has become a bigger part of her life.  

“I’ve been playing for 10 years. I can say it’s become more demanding as I’ve gotten older,” Dumont said 

The hours that some of us spend sleeping or watching Netlfix, the softball team spends working hard. If they catch themselves slacking on the little things, they will pay for it in the big tournament  

“We can spend up to almost 15 hours in a week practicing,” Dumont said.  

Those 15 hours can become more on a weekend tournament for the PLHS Monarchs softball team.  

“Depending on what time we play, we usually have to be there 90 minutes before we have our game to warm up. Then depending if we keep winning, we will be playing all day sometimes up to 4 games a day,” Dumont said.  

Although the players are the ones who are on the fields sweating, the coaches are doing just as much to keep the players skills honed, and also maintaining good relationships with their family and friends. Mr. Johnston, a Digital media teacher at PLHS shares what he experiences as a coach for the varsity softball team.  

“Being a teacher, coach, and club sponsor is time consuming, but I enjoy every bit of it. I’m fortunate to have a supportive wife,” Johnston said.  

As well as trying to keep good relationships with his wife, he makes sure his players do the same with their families.  

“I make sure kids are being transparent with their teachers, coaches, parents, etc., and honest with themselves. If they’re emotional about things, I try to give them instant perspective,” Johnston said.  

Johnston even uses a quote from his father to help with his problems, whether that be his own or his players.  

“The most memorable thing my dad used to tell me: things are never as bad as they seem, and things are never as good as they seem,” Johnston said.  

Like the Chinese Yin and Yang symbol, softball’s demanding needs of practice and dedication clash, but are crucial to bring the joy and excitement the sport brings.