As the Thunderbird softball pre-season starts, the girls are hitting the batting cages and shaking off some dust to prepare for the field! The weeks ahead are about the coaches and players building endurance, refining skills, and building team chemistry. The team is strengthening their mental game to ensure a winning season as well!

The team is led by Coach Elizabeth Arnold, who has been coaching softball for five years, the last two as head coach of the varsity. Not only is she familiar with the game as a coach, but she has also played. Coach Arnold stated that she started playing at four years old. Her main goal is making the playoffs. When asked how she prepares her team, she said, “We have been doing open fields since October, and we’ve been getting the girls together a couple of times per week.”

Last season, they went 15-11 and ranked 3rd in the region; Last year’s record was the highest record for the Thunderbird softball program. This year, Coach Arnold’s goal is to place higher and win 20 games. When asked what went wrong last and how she and the team would like to fix it, she said, “I think our biggest thing that went wrong last season was losing to Greenway twice, so for us it’s adjusting the errors that were made on the field to not lose those games.” Last year’s record was the highest record for the Thunderbird softball program.

Their first game is Feb. 26. Coach Arnold states she’s very excited to see what this season has in store for her and the team. Two new freshmen were added to varsity, and she says they will be a good addition. With their sights on success this season and very much determined, the Thunderbird Titans are letting no one beat them. The Titans are ready to gear up and hit the bases.