Tryouts have ended. Rosters have been made. Schedules have been released. It’s on. Kicking off the spring sport season, the GHS softball organization has already gotten a head start on practicing for the future. With the team under new management this year, there are things to be expected of the new Head Coach Pederson.

Pederson comes from a long line of legacy in the ball game. She grew up with a father who was one of the top picks for the Kansas City Royals and played in the minor leagues for four years and has since been a professional baseball coach for the past 45 years. Not to mention her mother Ann Pederson being a hall of fame, long time standing coach for GCU’s softball team. Pederson started playing softball when she was 3 and has since made a name for herself. She played all through her school years and eventually joined her mom by playing at GCU. Coming from all of this certainly gives her the eye for the game. “Both of my parents have very strong personalities and are not afraid to tell their players what they need to hear as long as they knew it was good for the player in the long run. I definitely think that’s something that has carried over to not only my coaching, but also my teaching as well. I’m not afraid to have those difficult conversations because I’d rather communicate and fix the issue than leave it,” Pederson said. “But on top of that, both of my parents cared immensely for their players, they were their players’ biggest cheerleaders. I also feel like I have that in me as well. I want nothing more than for all of my girls to succeed on and off the field,” Pederson said. The importance of bringing every aspect of the game into reality for these girls is obviously not lost on her.

Pederson also makes sure that the girls have a bond on and off the field as well. She is making current changes to make sure that the GHS softball organization builds a stronger culture. This culture will not only support Gilbert as a school, but also other athletic teams. Pederson also pushes for better grades on her team by shifting the requirements so that all players have to have above a 65% in all of their classes.“ Something that I have expressed to both parents and players from the very beginning was that I would rather make these players the most productive people in society once they're done with high school, than just making them the best player on the field,” Pederson said. Some other changes she is making towards the organization are an increase in community service participation on both teams as well as a “big sister” system. The system requires one varsity player to be assigned a junior varsity player so that they can get to know one another better and exchange gifts every other week to help bridge the gap between the teams.

While having a new coach with so much experience is great for the team, upperclassmen find their own way to adjust to the change. One senior, Skylar Williams, has been with the team since her freshman year at Gilbert High School. Making the transition from junior high ball to high school ball was a change of its own. But now, she must go from playing her last three years with the coaching staff led by former Head Coach Morgan Zebe, to the many new coaching techniques coming her way from Pederson all within her last year at GHS. “A big difference now is how connected we are now. We’re bonding more as one team than varsity and jv separately. Being one of the upperclassmen, Pederson pushes us to show more leadership with the junior varsity girls. We do things like talking to them, teaching them some of the things we know, stuff like that,” Williams said. She is also happy to announce her commitment to playing softball at Idaho State.
Girls that tried out for the GHS softball team also chose to use this change to their benefit. They must set the tone for themselves and make the impressions of how they will perform in the future for the season. Needless to say that this change is surely an opportunity for all softball players at Gilbert High School.
But the students aren’t the only ones to worry about making a good first impression. Becoming the new head coach means that all eyes are now on Pederson. Judgment and questions from fans, parents, and other players have already started to make their mark. How will she improve the program? What new training techniques will take this team to the top? Will she fulfill all of the promises that were made? Time will only tell. This “new team” must prove themselves to be the greatness that they aspire to while they still have time to fully make that first impression. Not only to themselves or the fans, but also for the new coaches. Because now, not only does the GHS softball team represent their school, but the new coaching management put in place.

Huddling up at the pitcher’s mound, the GHS softball team prepares to enter the next inning on defense. Jazlyn Cardenas Morales keeps the secret of the game in her back pocket. “The most important part about softball for me is keeping the fun alive while playing the game,” Cardenas Morales said. Photo taken by Tessa Hulse.