In today’s blog, Jenna Lilley recounts how she used to be into her personal softball stats until she realized the one that really trumps all others.

“We all want to do our best to contribute,” she explains, “but at the end of the day the only stat that matters is the team’s won-loss record because ‘the team is the ultimate champion.’”

Jenna is an infielder for Hoover High in North Canton, Ohio—currently rated by StudentSportsSoftball.com as one of the top 25 teams in the nation—and winners of three straight state championships.

The Buckeye State star was named as the No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2014 after she hit .697 as a junior and was named the Ohio State Player of the Year and a MaxPreps All-American.  She has committed to the Univ. of Oregon and is also excellent in the classroom with a 3.9 GPA.

Click here to read Jenna’s earlier blogs and those from our other standout players!

Learn more about Jenna and her athletic family in this piece by her mother, Debbie, called A parent’s perspective: softball sacrifices

See our video interview of mother and daughter shot this summer at PGF

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It’s high school season for almost all of us around the country. High school ball is a great time to get to play with your softball friends from school and represent your community.

The media, community fans, and  school peers all know who you’re playing on every game day, which is an exciting aspect to high school sports. There are so many positives to high school season and it is the beginning of a six month time period of straight softball games for many of us.

I will say though, that players get too caught up in statistics and batting averages in high school season.

We shouldn’t be playing the game for a “certain batting average,” but that becomes a part of high school season, especially when stats are posted in the papers frequently.

I was definitely guilty of this in my past, but there’s something I realized over the years that really changed the way I look at the game. We all want to do our best to contribute, but at the end of the day the only stat that matters is the team’s won-loss record because “the team is the ultimate champion.”

Championship banners hanging say the team’s name, not specific players’ names.

Once I realized this in my career, everything changed so much. I will tell you that I used to be more into my results, because I wanted to succeed so badly. I absolutely still want to succeed as badly or even more and I always put forth my best effort to contribute to the team.

But, if I happen to not have my best game, I’m happy as long as my team wins. And if we don’t win, I’m ready to get back at it with a clean slate the next day, remembering the mistakes of the loss, so we can learn from them and make them into positives for the rest of the season.

You’re not going to have your best game every single game, but that’s why there’s 12 or so other players on your team. Your teammates are there to pick you up if you’re not performing at your best.

And it doesn’t matter if you’re the starting centerfielder or a non starter, everyone on the team has a role and every player means just as much to the team as the “star player.”

I think people forget that a lot, even though we all want to be “the best,” we all have a role to play. Maybe it’s helping to pick signs or letting the catcher know when the runner is stealing or maybe it’s being out on the field playing. But everything helps to make a team as one. It truly is the little details that are vital.

People may not realize it, but all 12 or so players on a team can be leaders in their own ways. Maybe it’s having good energy and communication on the field, or simply leading by example. Another aspect of leadership and being a team player is taking initiative.

One of my favorite things to do—or see a teammate do—is take initiative for the little things that need to be done.

If you’re always the first one out of the dugout and don’t ever help carry any equipment, that’s not sending a good message. There is always something that you can help your team out with.

That’s where taking initiative comes in, if you see something that needs done, be the one to step up and do it. For example, there are always water bottles in the dugout after the game, so if you see trash, help clean up.

If there is equipment that needs to be carried, take that initiative to carry a bucket. (I am in total disagreement with the typical “seniors don’t have to carry a bucket” rule). If your teammate needs help with something, be the one to step up and help them out.

Be a DO-er and be a leader your team can look to. And always remember we play this game to do what we love and be apart of something bigger than just yourself: your TEAM!

As always,
Jenna