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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, May 22, 2007

It's time to rise (at 4:30!) and shine on our journey

By Alana Power
Special to The Advertiser

Alana Power

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I don't think this team has ever felt this important.

Throughout the entire day, our coaching staff was constantly arranging all the accommodations for us to leave in the morning. Our hotel, flights, food and equipment have all been taken care of to ensure the smoothest transition for us on our journey to Tennessee. People are bending over backwards to make this happen for us, and we are learning more and more each day how much support we are getting back home.

In order to prepare for the upcoming games against Tennessee, Coach Bob moved up about three feet from the mound to pitch to us in today's practice at the same speed he would at the regular distance. The girls picked up on it quickly and soon enough balls were going over the fence again.

It was a light practice today. Infield and outfield drills, live hitting and some running at the end to "make us tired," coach said for our upcoming 4:30 a.m. wake up call in the morning.

Right now, because we're still in L.A. we don't have too many nerves going. However, once we get to their field, I think this will all become a huge reality again and the butterflies and anxiety will set in.

"This is as good as it gets," Coach Bob said at the end of our meeting tonight in regards to the career of a college softball athlete. This, for most of us, is the highest level of play we will ever compete in for the rest of our lives. He spoke to Tyleen (Tausaga) and I about how it has taken so many years to get where we are, and how excited he was for that and to the entire team about how proud he was of us thus far and how great this all is.

As you can imagine, this is a huge deal for us. I don't think there is one day that goes by where someone doesn't say, "This is so cool!"

I can be honest with you when I say that we are not excited to wake up at 4:30 in the morning, but I can assure you once we get to Tennessee, we will do our best to continue on our amazing journey through whatever the softball world is ready to throw at us.