Day in and day out, teams gather in the back of Archer’s campus to practice their respective sports. In the corner of the backfield lies a softball diamond, where members of the varsity softball team congregate to practice each school day.
Team captain Malia Apor (’24) started playing softball at 6 years old and has been on Archer’s varsity softball team since her freshman year. She plans to play D3 softball at Wesleyan University next year.
Apor said a vital part of the softball team is being there for each other, and everyone on the team has to work together to succeed. Additionally, Apor said she enjoys Archer softball because she feels like the team has become an important part of her life.
“I feel like if there’s an opportunity to give back in a small way, like being captain, I’ll do it,” Apor said. “Also, when I was a sophomore, I had really great senior captains who I looked up to, so it motivated me to be like them.”
The team traveled to Beverly Hills High School for their season opener Feb. 14, where they won 7-1. After their win, the team advanced to their first league game of the season Feb. 22, where Archer beat Oakwood 13-3. The team then lost 1-11 to Faith Baptist High School. Following their loss, the team has beat Chadwick 15-6 and Brentwood School 15-0. March 19, Archer lost to Viewpoint 1-11. March 21, Archer played against Immaculate Heart High School, winning with a score of 11-3.
Junior Avalon Garland joined the softball team her freshman year. She said most of her first year on the team, she was on the bench. As a sophomore, she was a left fielder, and her junior year, she is continuing that position.
On a softball team, there are nine positions. Garland explained how all of the positions work together to achieve success. She said the fielders work together to catch field balls and back up bases. Everyone on a base bats field balls. The shortstop covers the second base as well as the second basemen. The catcher catches the pitch as well as covers the home plate.
“A lot of times, [we] hit the balls really far over our heads, and it can be very hard to get them. So our centerfield will have to back both me and our right fielder up a lot,” Garland said. “Every single person in the outfield has to back each other up. Also, if a ball gets past shortstop, then I have to be there to back her up and get the ball, otherwise the ball is just going to sit there.”
Junior Alina Williams joined the softball team her freshman year. After the team won its first two games of the season, Williams said she and her team were delighted.
“It was pretty great. It was a really good moment where we all got to come together,” Williams said. “Everyone did amazing on our first game and our second.”
The team has upcoming games against Crossroads April 9 and Brentwood School April 11. Garland said teammates must understand each other in order to cultivate a positive and successful team.
“Everyone has to be on their game if it’s going to work,” Garland said.”If just one person messes up, it’s immediately someone else’s responsibility to cover them. We have to work hard to be there for each other.”
