Every day in March, senior Alyssa Robin would look down at her iPhone for the latest weather update.
Each time, she hoped to see an improving forecast, one that would allow the Deerfield softball team to ditch the gymnasium and hold practice outside.
Unfortunately, the weather never seemed to cooperate.
“It was pretty frustrating,” she said. “We practiced on the gymnasium floor, and we do have a batting cage. But at the same time, all you want to do is get outside.”
Last week, the girls weren’t concerned about the weather in Illinois. They were too busy enjoying the start of their season in Orlando, Fla., at Disney’s Wide World of Sports. After dropping the opening game of the trip, Deerfield strung together three consecutive victories.
This was the second consecutive season the Warriors made the Disney trip. Coach Susan Johnson said she looks at the trip as a win-win situation.
“Over the years, we found that families wanted to go away over spring break. But then those players missed a week of working together early in the season,” Johnson said. “So we decided to head to Florida, and the families are invited to come along.”
Spending the time in Florida together as a team is often a great way for Deerfield to jumpstart team chemistry.
“When we live together for a week, we learn a lot about each other,” Johnson said. “It’s certainly fun to visit the parks at Disney, but I (even) enjoyed standing in lines, eating meals and working together in a different environment.”
Senior Zoey Fishman said the girls have looked forward to the Florida trip ever since the team’s organizational meeting in the fall.
“We were so excited,” she said. “We started counting down the days.”
The Warriors began the trip with a 10-5 loss to West Boca Raton (Fla.). Fishman took the loss on the mound but had three hits, including a triple. The loss was mitigated somewhat by the fact that West Boca Raton was in the middle of its season.
Deerfield evened its record at 1-1 with a 17-2 victory over Faith Lutheran, a high school in Las Vegas. Robin earned the victory, and the offense exploded with 11 hits. Fishman, Natalie Behling, Melissa Dolins and Sami Horwitz all had two hits.
The Warriors closed out the trip with victories over two teams from Wisconsin: Wausau West (6-2) and Waunakee (10-8). In the final game, Deerfield led 10-1 but had to hold off a big rally.
“We had a lull in our (play) and it was a good learning experience because we know we need to maintain our energy throughout the entire game,” Robin said. “We can’t get distracted when we have a lead.”
Added Johnson: “It was good for us to have to respond and execute the plays we (needed to) at that point in the game.” ~.
