UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- The 2021 Penn State softball season is almost underway, as the team's opening weekend will start this Friday in Leesburg, Florida, in the Big Ten Softball Bubble.
This season is much different than previous years for the Nittany Lions, especially since it has been nearly a year since the team has been able to compete on a diamond together. The last game before the cancellation of the rest of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 was March 11 at University of Southern Florida.
Yet, it is a new era for Penn State softball, as Friday will be the mark of not only a new season, but also the unfolding of Clarisa Crowell's coaching career with her new staff at Penn State.
In Wednesday's Media Day, Crowell, who joined the Nittany Lions from Miami (Ohio) in August, said she is extremely excited to start the season in Florida, and is confident in the new mindsets and regiments her and her staff have implemented.
Here are a few takeaways from what the softball program is focusing on heading into the new season:
Ohana
In the movie Lilo and Stitch, the Hawaiian word "Ohana" means "family" and "family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten." Building "Ohana," this unconditional support and love, is one of the team's main focuses.
"Culture is one of those things that takes time," Crowell said. "I feel really good about where our team is at right now. It's about getting to know our student-athletes."
According to Crowell, a "good foundation" has already been made for such a connectedness.
"It is about getting on the same page, able to talk the same language, to be able to talk to each other about our values and our standards," Crowell said.
Junior catcher Ally Kurland has noted that the team is even "more competitive and even closer" than they were when they had to end the season last March, despite not being able to bond and spend as much time together as they normally would because of COVID protocols.
"I think we are just taking the time at practice, using that to the best of our ability to make meaningful connections with each other and then, when we can, outside of softball," Kurland said. "I think we are doing a really good job of just staying together and staying connected as a team."
Staying connected as a team during the offseason looks different during a pandemic, but the "little things" are what helps. Crowell said she has been, and continues to, check in on her team academically and tries to find ways to have conversations with them when they are around the facility.
Because of this concept and focus on "Ohana," Crowell said she feels "good about where we are" going into this weekend.
"The chemistry and morale with our students right now are awesome," Crowell said. "I do think that stems from simply that family piece and that connection, that connectedness. Even in 10 years when they are graduated, I'm still going to find ways to connect with them."
Competitive Practices
The famous quote, "Practice like you play, because you'll play like you practice," has never been truer for the Penn State softball team.
Coach Crowell believes in the mantra "elite effort and elite energy," and she said she expects those values to be displayed amongst her team.
"Practices have been competitive, practices have been full of energy and effort," Crowell said. "Our staff has been taking the approach that we want them to do exactly what they have been doing at practices in the game. Our kids are very intentional at practice, they work really hard and they are always focused. We talk to them every day about elite effort and elite energy, and that's exactly what we're going to talk to them about tomorrow night."
According to Crowell, because practice hours have been limited this offseason, and it is hard to simulate a doubleheader while scrimmaging, the team will start a game in the fifth inning, for example, with one team down 3-0. Then, they will start the next game, which saves the team time, and it prepares them for all different kinds of scenarios.
Senior outfielder Dani Fey said the Nittany Lions are going to "bring it, no matter what" in Florida this weekend.
"We are ready to go no matter what environment," Fey said. "If we get down to Florida and it ends up being cold for some reason, we're ready for that too. There's no excuses. We are just so resilient in anything that we can just check right back in no matter what."
Coach Crowell is also confident that the team is going to be ready for this weekend, and the excitement levels are helping to fuel that readiness.
"Honestly, our conversations with them from practice to games are really not going to change that much," Crowell said. "I think our kids are just excited and are going to be thankful to step out on that field on Friday."
Kurland serves as a testament for the team's excitement.
"I think we are so excited to finally be able to play and showcase what we can do to the Big Ten and to the rest of college softball," Kurland said. "We have all seen what we can do throughout the preseason just by scrimmages, and these have been some of the most competitive scrimmages that I have been a part of."
New Coaching Staff, New Values
After 18 years of having coaching experience, being named the 2019 MAAC Coach of the Year award winner, and the winningest coach in Miami (Ohio) program history, it is no surprise that Crowell has brought her own coaching style and techniques to Happy Valley.
Respect, professionalism and how the team carries themselves are important pillars Crowell instills in her team and expects them to follow. Crowell has also made changes within her staff, and she hopes to be making changes and renovations within their facility.
"I think our style of play might be a little different this year just because the kind of coach that I am," Crowell said. "I truly believe in elite effort and elite energy and I expect it out of our kids."
"I do expect a lot," Crowell added.
Crowell's high standards to push the team to their best of their ability is Fey's favorite aspect of the new coaching staff, and she said the structure and professionalism that has been instilled is here to stay within Penn State softball's culture.
"I love how we have very structured values, pillars, goals for us every single day, and just the structure they brought to the program, and even just being professional," Fey said. "I like how she implemented the 'Penn State Way' with what she wanted to bring to the program and met in the middle."
Taking One Pitch at a Time
Kurland said her favorite aspect that Crowell has brought to the softball program is her mindset, which is to "take one step at a time" and "one pitch at a time."
By having this particular mindset, the moment slows down and does not appear to feel "too big," according to Kurland.
"Instilling that mistakes are okay and that we are able to bounce back right away is the biggest thing that has helped me," Kurland said.
This mindset is considered as "process-based" to Crowell, and it has been instilled in the team during practices.
"It's one pitch, one inning, one opponent, one game at a time, and that is the thought-process that we're going to have every game, every weekend," Crowell said. "We are going to control the things that we can control."
"Controlling the 'controllables' is a goal for our team this year," Crowell said.
Focus on the Little Things
Coach Crowell has not set any long-term goals for her team yet due to the unprecedented season.
"We cannot compare to any other year, and we have had this conversation with our students," Crowell said.
The unprecedented offseason has given Fey an appreciation for the "small things" each day.
There is a sense of gratefulness for just having the ability to even play the game this season, and a sense of gratefulness that allows the team to work on such "small things" that will eventually help with the bigger picture.
"We are ready no matter what, because we are taking pride in the little things and being able to cover everything that will keep us better, like hydration to practice," Fey said. "We obviously want to play more games than we are scheduled for, but we'll take anything we can get. We're just happy to be out there, happy to all be healthy and together.
Kurland said the team has been doing a good job "making the most" out of what they are given.
"I think I just have a grateful mindset that we actually get the chance to go out and play again, even though we are in such uncertain times and COVID is still around," Kurland said. "I'm just really thankful we have the opportunity and go down to Florida and play in some warm weather for preseason."
There is one immediate and present goal, however, that Crowell is focused on. Staying healthy and being socially responsible has taken precedent.
"If we are not able to do that, we are not going to be able to play," Crowell said. "That's a goal I know all coaches have on the board this year"
The second, current goal is to control the effort and energy levels of the athletes.
"Obviously, it's been a different type of motivation because we finally get to play after a year, but I think that motivation stays no matter what, just because of the game that we like to play," Fey said.
Penn State opens the 2021 season on Friday in a doubleheader against Wisconsin starting at 4:15 p.m.