Spring Training

Give credit to these players, they are working hard. Since the ticker on the homepage hit zero, and Spring Training began, two-a-days have been the schedule. 

To start the day, the team heads out in caravans from Curtis Hall on the ten minute trek to their field. They head into the locker room at 9 a.m. to have mental training with Coach Jen Croneberger. The topics of conversation are just one more step to get the players to know each other better, so that their play looks like they have playing together for years. 

Yesterday, Croneberger put "Buckets" in all their lockers, a concept very similar to the "Love Tank" that is described in the book Seven Love Languages. It is a metaphor that has taken a visual appearance with these pint sized buckets. The team is encouraged to drop notes into teammates buckets to make sure that they are feeling appreciated, know that they are doing well and to help keep the camaraderie alive. 

After they have visualize and are in the zone, defense starts on the field for the morning session. Coach Franquet keeps an intense defensive pace with a drill called "boom boom." From the press box you can here the steady rhythm of balls coming off the bat. The cool part about watching the team practice defense, is how together they play. There is constant cheering, applause and encouragement to be heard throughout the stadium, and through the streets of west Allentown. 

Then comes lunch.

The afternoon session is the most fun to watch, I think: batting practice. Coach Franquet usually starts off throwin' heat from behind the screen, the on deck batters hit off tees and the team spreads out to "shag." There is the occasional appearance of Alex Kleinman, the owner's son, showing off his best defensive skills. The team is seriously impressive. It looks like a casual swing to send the ball deep into the outfield. 

I love watching the shaggers pull out an impressive catch, and how excited all the players get. Auriel Jenkins made an awesome grab deep beyond where a regulation fence would sit. With a textbook drop step and great path to a fly ball, she caught the ball just a step out of stride pulling her to the ground... total control of the ball after the roll. 

It doesn't seem like they want to leave. After the pitchers have thrown to batters in rotation, Coach Franquet calls the team in, has closing remarks, but still not all of them are satisfied. Yesterday, Returner Savannah Brown helped Rookie Sam Yodowitz polish her swing as they worked off the tee after practice had been called. 

Look for big stats from the Force. They have been pounding balls, working hard and turning double-plays that look just too easy to them. I can't wait to see them in action tonight against the City 6 at Drexel University! Play ball!

Home sweet home

Let's just go ahead and be honest... I never thought I would graduate college, and move back into a dorm. Lucky for me, it's actually becoming a really cool experience. I am the only intern that lives in the dorm, but I get the honor of living with the team. This is where I'm going to really be able to tell you what is going on as I get to interact with the girls on the field, and in the hallways. 

We currently live in Curtis Hall, located at Cedar Crest College. The college is a cozy campus full with beautiful greenery, and oddly enough, a ton of rabbits running around. For just a little background, the college was started in 1887 and is a women's college. 

Move in day was interesting. The team had just finished practicing in New Jersey where coach Jeff Franquet was wrapping up his college season at Georgian Court University. The parking lot was empty until a train of cars, all with mix-n-match license plates, peeled into their parking spots. 

"Who has room 321?! If you have it you better speak now! It's my room," yelled a player through her laughter. I got nervous as I checked my little brown envelope that read 324, I sighed in relief. 

The atmosphere through our halls is chill and exhausted. The team is on a two-a-day Spring Training schedule, and when they step off the field things take a different pace. The community room has steady action. The girls even after a full day of softball, can't keep their minds off the game as they watch, together, the WCWS playoff games. They bring their computers and hang out, talking softball and day-to-day things. 

Every night, pitcher Stacy Birk, posts something different on a dry erase board she has in the bathroom, getting the team together. Since moving in there has been a sign for a Memorial Day picnic, a bring your own popcorn movie night, a game night with Mario Kart and lucky enough for me, she set is helping me get game day music requests. 

I think this is going to be a great experience, for the team and myself. You can't get to know people any more intimately than when you live with them... or have a community bathroom, of course. This team has a special opportunity to bond further than most teams who only see each other on the field. Get ready to see them grow as a family. 

Shoots in skirts!

Today is the photo shoot. The team woke up early this morning to look their best for you, and the guy snapping pictures of them. Heels, skirts and dresses were introduced to the locker room, while the cleats and gloves were momentarily moved to the side. 

The atmosphere in the locker room is contagious. Throughout the office hallways and even up into the stadium, laughter and cheering is echoing. We, the interns, can't help but to pop our heads into the locker room to see what all the fuss is about! It sounds like more fun than the click of our keyboards.

Let me paint the picture for you: As you walk down the stadium office hallway into the locker room door, the equipment is set. There are flashing lights, backdrops and a photographer calling out encouragement to the team so they look their best. Even better, the players are lined up behind the photographer critiquing every move made. 

"It's all in the eyes!"

"Flex that muscle!" (response) "I can't it's shaking!" 

"You look perfect! Keep smiling!"

The encouragement is awesome. I wish I could have taped the coaching and smiles that were not just seen through the scope of the camera lens, but behind the set with player's proud of each other. It was cool. 

The funniest part to me was their attitudes. They pushed back a hip, tossed their hair and smiled bright... but when that glove or bat got into their hand, they finally looked comfortable, like themselves. These are talented, beautiful women, and what brings them all together is a sport. A sport that empowers them, and let's them step into a role that runway models take for granted. Check out the pictures, folks. You'll see something more than just a team. 

Who's this blogger?

Hey Force fans!

  Just a quick introduction to me, your Force blogger! I'm Chelsea, one of the interns working in the front office for the Force. I'll be following what the team is doing off the field in places like their dorm, in the locker room and during practice. I'd like to give you the "insider's" view to what goes on outside of foul territory. 

  Keep coming to visit me on this site all during Spring Training and the regular season! I look forward to seeing you at the park!