USU softball players, coach reflect on their season ending
“It was disheartening and heartbreaking.”
Those were the words junior outfielder Stephanie Reed used to describe her reaction after learning the softball season was ending for her and the rest of Utah State University’s team. On March 12, one day before a home-and-home against Utah Valley University, the NCAA announced it would be suspending athletics indefinitely. Soon after, it was announced that all Division 1 spring sports were canceled.
The news came as a shock, and just as the Aggies were heading into the most important games on the schedule.
“Everyone was set to go, with conference play right around the corner. “[There] was a lot of emotion,” Reed said. “We were building on a lot this season.”
Head coach Steve Johnson echoed Reed’s words, noting that the team had “just got things rolling.” The unexpected announcement left him at a little bit of a loss for words, something he called “uncharted territory.”
“There’s not a chapter in the book of coaching that deals with a situation like this,” he said. “[There are] no easy words to put this into perspective.”
Despite the season coming to an abrupt end, Johnson said the players handled the situation “with a lot of maturity” even though it was a tough pill to swallow.
“Given what else is going on in this world right now, it’s a small price to pay to make sure everyone is healthy,” he said.
Senior Riley Plogger was especially hit hard by the news, as her record-setting career came to a screeching halt.
“Them canceling the whole season right away just kind of blew me away,” she said.”
The team was initially informed of the season being put on hold. Then, shortly after, it was revealed the window on the 2019-20 campaign was shuttered for good.
“It hurts; a year of play that you can’t get back, Plogger said.
Plogger reflected back on her career as an Aggie, which included being named to multiple All-Mountain West teams, both in athletics and academics. Her most recent achievement came on March 6, when she became the all-time runs leader in USU softball history. However, the veteran outfielder overlooked her personal accolades, instead acknowledging the team’s growth.
With her game-winning run, @rileyann27 is now the ALL-TIME runs leader at Utah State! She has scored 114 runs in her career to hold the record. #AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/zNvsll7069
— USU Softball (@USUSoftball) March 6, 2020
“Seeing this team perform this year — this is a really good team.”
Reed said one of the biggest heartbreaks was losing the time remaining with seniors, such as Plogger.
“You only have a few months left to play, [but suddenly,] you’ve played your last game with them. It’s tough, knowing that we weren’t going to be able to play together.”
As big of a letdown as it was, the team is aware of the severity surrounding the college’s actions.
“Overall, as athletes, we understand that this situation is bigger than our sport,” Plogger said. “What’s being done is necessary for the safety of others. [However,] it doesn’t make it any less heartbreaking for the time… it is kind of hard to take that loss away.”
Ultimately, the fate of the season was out of their hands, but Johnson considered the bigger picture.
“We talk in life, and in softball, about Controlling the ‘controllables’. All we can control is our attitude and our effort.”
While the players prepare for the next steps, whether it be looking for jobs or moving back home, they’re relishing in the last moments they have with each other. With the newfound free-time, the group went on hikes, “We didn’t want to leave each other and tried to enjoy each other’s company as much as we could,” Reed said.
In the end, the players expressed appreciation for the time they had, with Plogger saying she was “blessed” to be part of the team. Reed, who will be returning next spring, believes the season would have been competitive and that “we will be ready to pick it up next year.”
— swfroehlich@gmail.com