Annie Egan ‘25
As the weather is starting to get warmer and spirits are lifting all around campus, this energy can certainly be felt at the softball diamond at the Chatham fields. The spring sport season is just getting started and athletes are preparing for the exciting season ahead. Untucked followed Softball co-captain, Zahra Jones ‘23, through a day in her life on the team’s first game day.
6:45 a.m. – Zahra wakes up at this time for school each day. She eats a big breakfast to fuel up for the big game day ahead.
7:30 – Normally, Zahra would be heading to school right about now, but on this day she is going to her friend’s high school to support her as she officially signs her contract to play softball in college. The connections made through softball are some of the strongest friendships because the sport requires trust between teammates and leads to some of the best relationships.
9:30 – Zahra arrives back at school to put the student into student-athlete. Getting to see teammates in the hallways at school is always a fun way to bond outside of the sport, especially on game days.
12:35 – Lunch time! Zahra enjoys grilled cheese, hummus, and frozen yogurt, a much anticipated lunch among students. She is feeling energized and excited for this afternoon’s game.
2:45 – Time to get ready for the game! Oak Knoll softball is playing Rahway for the team’s first home game. In order to get her spirits high for the game, Zahra listens to some of her favorite songs on the way over to the fields from the softball playlist, including “The Weekend” by Sza and “Late Night Talking” by Harry Styles.
4:00 – Game time! Zahra leads warm ups for the team and plays the OKS softball playlist to get everyone pumped for the game. After warming up, the team is ready to start the game. Zahra is the starting pitcher and Oak Knoll takes the field first since they are the home team.
7:00 – After a hard fought game, the Royals lose 14-12 to Rahway. Zahra and the softball team meet after the game to discuss how they can improve, but also the things that worked well. After difficult games such as this one, Zahra is a great person for the rest of the team to look to for guidance and encouragement.
Thank you for following along on this day in the life of spring sport athlete, Zahra Jones. As the spring season continues, make sure to follow the softball team, along with all other Oak Knoll teams, as they improve and grow throughout the season.