The Final Chapter, by Araceli Martinez
Perspectives on Toros Softball
February 1, 2007

This series of journal entries is from softball's Araceli Martinez. She is a second baseman, who is a Downey native

As the lone senior, Araceli will lead the 2007 team. She is a four-year starter.

All Final Chapter Entries

September 4th of 2006 marked the first day of practice that included 22 girls, only four of which were returners. Though conditioning was strenuous for the newcomers, the returners were quick to help the new ones familiarize themselves with the Toro program. Such camaraderie during pre-season has strengthened the bonds between the girls as they struggled through various hardships. Although we have lost a few along the way, the ones that remained will be loyal and vital to our team’s success as we approach season.

Looking back at my freshman year, I can relate to how the girls feel coming into a brand new team in a college atmosphere. I, too, was intimidated, but somewhat comforted by the fact that I had two good friends who were already on the team. They helped me feel more at home by introducing me to the girls and making me feel like I was part of the team.

I was one of two incoming freshmen recruits for the 2004 season, and with more than six returning starters I really had to work hard for a starting spot. To start the season I split some time with our starting center fielder and eventually transitioned into our starting right fielder. Due to an injury caused by a sea urchin in Hawaii, I did not get to finish the season as I would have liked. But I was just so happy to come in as a freshman and contribute in any way that I could to our team’s success.

The past three years have gone by incredibly fast, and I’m so fortunate to have been able to meet so many wonderful girls and keep several as life-long friends. For the past three years the Toro softball team has progressed and grown together, enabling us to advance further in regionals each season. At the end of our 2005 season, we improved our prior regional appearance from winning one game to two games. And last year in 2006 we made it all the way to the championship series. Our growing success was due primarily to the fact that the girls bonded in such a way that helped us work together as a team. This year’s story is quite different because we’ve lost eight starters and we’ve had to rebuild from the ground up.

Many people outside of our Toro family are underestimating our talent and ability to live up to our prior achievements because we lost some key position players early in the season. I understand how our situation may look on the outside, but I honestly feel that this team has the desire and willpower to do whatever it takes. I know that if I’m hanging off the edge of the cliff, I can trust any one of these girls to hold the rope and keep me from falling. This team may be young and inexperienced, but as they grow throughout the years and learn to trust each other even more, there won’t be anything they can’t achieve.