Colorado State University Athletics
Rams Focused on Positives After Two Tournaments
2/18/2020 2:00:00 PM | Softball, RamWire
Fisher says players taking charge of accountability
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – There's a culture present in Colorado State softball. Even before the first pitch, it showed in the program's desire to schedule hard matchups in the season's early going.
As the year's started, it's shown in every action of the team. Head coach Jen Fisher, amid a tough weekend in Mexico, was set to talk with her team. Instead, she simply watched as the players she recruited and made a part of the program took the reins.
"Position by position, every single one of the players holds themselves accountable," Fisher said. "Postgame on Friday, I didn't really even have to get upset with this team. There was so much good interaction right after that game. They spent 30-40 minutes just trying to talk within position groups and I couldn't shut them up.
"On this team, there's a natural, mutual respect where they know everyone is working hard and they're holding themselves accountable."
The various conversations came after a 4-3 loss to California Baptist as part of an 0-4 weekend on the heels of a 4-1 weekend in Texas.
Losses are inevitable when a team chooses to put together a schedule which included two top-25 teams and Team Mexico in just its first two weekends. Those miscues are even more forgivable when considering the Rams' current progress in rebuilding multiple aspects of the program.
Behind the plate, the Rams lost both Lauren Buchanan and Mountain West player of the year Amber Nelson – both of whom played pivotal roles in the system the program has instilled in regard to communication.
The weekend showed the areas, which the team has to work on moving forward.
"We're working with new catchers in our program," Fisher said. "Tara Shadowen is new to left field, we have a new second baseman and that's a position that's a very difficult position in softball because there's so much short game, there's cuts, there's tandem cuts.
"I think we are really excited and ready to work through a couple of things. This team works really hard for one another."
Even with the cards seemingly stacked against the Rams, the players placed the onus on themselves rather than the situation. When the hitting hasn't been up to par, Corina Gamboa has chalked it up to inconsistency. With the pitching, Jessica Jarecki made sure to point out that no poor start is ever on one individual, it's always a team effort.
"Everyone is going to have an off weekend," Jarecki said. "It's about finding that balance and knowing that each of us is working for each other, no matter what."
When the team exited the flight back from their latest tournament, none of the conversation was allowed to be negative. Fisher made it clear dwelling on the losses wouldn't be their plan of action – as if she even needed to remind the team which is so mature already in her eyes.
The dichotomy between weekends has been taken in stride. As easy as negativity can come, the team has spurned it altogether in preparation for a trip to San Jose, California to play in the Silicon Valley Classic, which starts Friday with a rematch with California Baptist.
"We know that it wasn't our best weekend, but we know what we're capable of," Gamboa said. "We need to use this as a wakeup call and learn from it. I think just reflecting on ourselves and reminding ourselves what we're capable of (is huge). Just keep a positive mindset."
All of the stiff competition leading up to Mountain West play has a purpose. There are no breaks when the chaos begins once again.
Instead of a false hubris, the team will take a tested and earned confidence to the field. It's just how they're built.
"They understand the concept of actually pushing ourselves and trying to expose weaknesses," Fisher said. "They wanted the challenge, they understand it's a natural progression for our team after our success last year and they're just taking it as a learning experience which I'm proud of."
As the year's started, it's shown in every action of the team. Head coach Jen Fisher, amid a tough weekend in Mexico, was set to talk with her team. Instead, she simply watched as the players she recruited and made a part of the program took the reins.
"Position by position, every single one of the players holds themselves accountable," Fisher said. "Postgame on Friday, I didn't really even have to get upset with this team. There was so much good interaction right after that game. They spent 30-40 minutes just trying to talk within position groups and I couldn't shut them up.
"On this team, there's a natural, mutual respect where they know everyone is working hard and they're holding themselves accountable."
The various conversations came after a 4-3 loss to California Baptist as part of an 0-4 weekend on the heels of a 4-1 weekend in Texas.
Losses are inevitable when a team chooses to put together a schedule which included two top-25 teams and Team Mexico in just its first two weekends. Those miscues are even more forgivable when considering the Rams' current progress in rebuilding multiple aspects of the program.
Behind the plate, the Rams lost both Lauren Buchanan and Mountain West player of the year Amber Nelson – both of whom played pivotal roles in the system the program has instilled in regard to communication.
The weekend showed the areas, which the team has to work on moving forward.
"We're working with new catchers in our program," Fisher said. "Tara Shadowen is new to left field, we have a new second baseman and that's a position that's a very difficult position in softball because there's so much short game, there's cuts, there's tandem cuts.
"I think we are really excited and ready to work through a couple of things. This team works really hard for one another."
Even with the cards seemingly stacked against the Rams, the players placed the onus on themselves rather than the situation. When the hitting hasn't been up to par, Corina Gamboa has chalked it up to inconsistency. With the pitching, Jessica Jarecki made sure to point out that no poor start is ever on one individual, it's always a team effort.
"Everyone is going to have an off weekend," Jarecki said. "It's about finding that balance and knowing that each of us is working for each other, no matter what."
When the team exited the flight back from their latest tournament, none of the conversation was allowed to be negative. Fisher made it clear dwelling on the losses wouldn't be their plan of action – as if she even needed to remind the team which is so mature already in her eyes.
The dichotomy between weekends has been taken in stride. As easy as negativity can come, the team has spurned it altogether in preparation for a trip to San Jose, California to play in the Silicon Valley Classic, which starts Friday with a rematch with California Baptist.
"We know that it wasn't our best weekend, but we know what we're capable of," Gamboa said. "We need to use this as a wakeup call and learn from it. I think just reflecting on ourselves and reminding ourselves what we're capable of (is huge). Just keep a positive mindset."
All of the stiff competition leading up to Mountain West play has a purpose. There are no breaks when the chaos begins once again.
Instead of a false hubris, the team will take a tested and earned confidence to the field. It's just how they're built.
"They understand the concept of actually pushing ourselves and trying to expose weaknesses," Fisher said. "They wanted the challenge, they understand it's a natural progression for our team after our success last year and they're just taking it as a learning experience which I'm proud of."
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