Oregon State’s Softball team will have 21 games on the road down in California before having their first home game of the season.
The Beavers have traveled to Southern California and played in Los Angeles, San Diego, Palm Spring and Fullerton.
For the month of February, the Beavers’ softball team was on the road playing back-to-back days, along with multiple doubleheaders starting as early as 9 a.m. This brings into question, how do they support their mental and physical health when it comes to this stress?
“Trying to stay tough mentally is … a good aspect that we try to have on those early game days,” first-year pitcher Amelia Streuber said. She later elaborated on how they have days where they are up late and then up very early the next day, playing.
“I’m in treatment every night … getting whatever I need to make sure I’m ready for the next day,” third-year first baseman Tristian Thompson said about the physical aspect.
Schoolwork can be one thing that can pile up with all these games on the road, but time is there for classes to be attended to.
“Coach Scotty sets … aside time for us to do study halls … and she tries to keep us accountable,” Streuber said.
Thompson had a different mindset than the first-year.
“If we leave on Wednesday, my work is done Tuesdays,” she said. “Because when we leave … the only thing I’m worried about is softball.”
This amount of time on the road needs a set routine, with Thompson and Streuber both agreeing that the routines for themselves and the team stay consistent even while on the road.
“You honestly get used to it … it’s honestly fun … we have a good group of girls, so there’s never a dull moment,” Thompson said.
The team has been on the road together for most of February, and being on the road that long means downtime.
“I’m either asleep … or in somebody else’s room watching a movie … watching TikTok, or whatever,” Thompson said.
The Beavers finally returned to Corvallis and played the University of Oregon at Kelly Field on March 4.
“It’s gonna be a great time. I’m super excited,” Thompson said about finally playing a home game.