Bengals playing by book

Bonanza’s early-season softball workouts have consisted of a bit more than the normal ground balls and swings in the batting cage.

Along with working out their arms and bats, the Bengals are exercising their minds with a special reading assignment.

So far, there’s no arguing with the results.

Bonanza, which went 9-11 overall and 5-7 in the Southeast League last season, carries a 10-0 record into today’s game at Western.
“The difference is all in our minds,” senior pitcher Sam Snyder said. “We’ve really upped our mental game.”

At the start of the season, second-year coach Dusti Winward asked her team to read the book “Mind Gym,” co-authored by sports psychologist Gary Mack. The book gives athletes tips on how to be more mentally prepared to perform.

“I believe this game is all mental,” Winward said. “Without being mentally strong, it’s hard to go that extra step. We’re really pushing the mental aspect of the game this year.”

With good reason, too. Bonanza was 3-7 in games decided by one or two runs last year, including a 2-5 mark in one-run games.

“We’re winning those games this year,” said Winward, who returned eight letter winners from last year’s squad. “They’re more confident this year, and we actually have seniors who want it badly. They’re a completely different group of girls than they were last year, even though it’s basically the same kids. Their whole mentality is different.”

And they’ve bought into what Winward is teaching.

“I wish I would have found out about this my freshman year,” Snyder said. “We’re setting the bar high, and it keeps getting raised.”

Reading the book as a team also has boosted the group’s camaraderie. With virtually the same team intact from last season, it has given the girls a chance to bond more tightly.

“This year, the girls are meshing together really, really well. We meshed last year, but it wasn’t as sisterly as it is this year,” Snyder said. “There’s tons more trust on the field. When you’re out there, all you have is the person beside you to rely on.”

Snyder and Courtney Spencer have been fabulous in the pitcher’s circle.

Coupled with solid defense, led by senior catcher Brittany Spencer, the Bengals have allowed only 19 runs.

“We were more prepared to start playing this year than we were last year,” Brittany Spencer said. “We’re all still the same team, just a little more grown up now.”

The area that has shown the most improvement, though, has been the offense.

Sparked by sophomore Emily Osborn, senior Aimee Doyle and Brittany Spencer, Bonanza has scored at least five runs in all but one of its games and is averaging 7.9 runs per game.

“Our sticks have really come out strong, and that helped a lot,” Brittany Spencer said.

The combination of defense, offense and the mental aspect has Bonanza believing it can contend for the Southeast League title and make some waves in the Sunset Region tournament.

“We just have to keep playing how we’re playing,” Brittany Spencer said.