By: Sara Moulton, Chicago Bandits
“The Pro Life” is a new feature on Fastpitch News. The series is focused on National Pro Fastpitch Player Sara Moulton of the Chicago Bandits. Sara will be posting weekly throughout the entire NPF season. It will provide a unique insight into the daily life of a professional softball player.
Well it’s that time of the year again folks, some may even call it the softball takeover. High School seasons are wrapping up around the country, which only means summer ball is close to beginning, the Women’s College World Series kick off this week, and the National Pro Fastpitch season heads into regular season game play. Hallelujah!
It has been a busy past couple of weeks at the Ballpark of Rosemont. The reigning 2015 NPF Champion Chicago Bandits began practice on Monday May 16th with only a handful of players. Our first week started off slow, but we sure got after it on the field. A typical practice day for the Bandits starts at 9am. Practices are structured very similar to those of college teams which include a dynamic warm up followed by a throwing progression, infield and outfield glove work and reps, then ending with full field batting practice and separate pitcher bullpens.
Practices range anywhere from 2-3 hours depending on efficiency and how the team is looking. Three days a week after practice at 2pm the Bandits head out to Mount Prospect where The Academy of Athletic Advancement (better known as AAA) awaits. The Academy is where we go to enhance our athletic skills and overall optimal fitness through speed, agility, and strength training workouts. The workouts at AAA are no joke. I’m not sure what was more intimidating my first day walking in between the giant treadmills, the battle ropes, the tires, or the famous wall of “pukers”. Yes, a wall decorated with pictures of Academy athletes who have indeed tossed their cookies during or after a workout.
I’m super excited to kick off my third summer in the National Pro Fastpitch League with the Chicago Bandits. This upcoming week we will take on the baseball boys in an intense “Battle of the Sexes” showdown in Southern Illinois, a few more practice days, and then we finally kick off our opening home series against the newest Pro team, the Houston Scrap Yard Dawgs.
It’s going to be a busy summer and I’m excited to share some insight and thoughts every Monday!
