Bat gripped tight. Eyes on the pitcher. Bases ready. Baseball and softball are no easy feats, sharing the general principles of the game with varying degrees of differences, but one thing stays true to both sports: the goal is to win. 

The culture surrounding baseball and softball, specifically amongst the players, relies heavily on superstition and tradition. While some players find their solace in superstitions, believing that sticking to a specific sequence will see their win to fruition, others find it in the traditions leading up to a big game. 

Superstitions are unique to every player, each crafting their own arrangement to success; luck is imperative. 

“If I am doing a certain stretch routine before I pitch, and I pitch well that day, I stay consistent with that routine,” junior Nathaniel Fundator, varsity baseball player said. “If I pitch off on a different day, I may blame some of it on not doing my stretches correctly, or not completing them.”

Noelle Waterman, varsity softball player, and junior, attests to the weight superstition holds in her pre-game habits. 

“I always wear my left hand batting glove when I hit. I feel like if I wear both, or just the right, I’ll have bad luck,” Waterman stated. “Before every game, I also eat a peanut butter jelly sandwich.” 

Waterman emphasizes the importance of luck as a concept she played with throughout her time on South’s softball team. This year, Waterman took the #13 as a way to overcome the bad luck she’s had in previous years. 

Likewise, junior Andrew Miller, who plays on the varsity baseball team, finds his routine before each game dictated by superstition.

“I’m a very superstitious person,” Miller stated. “While getting ready for every baseball game, I have a certain pattern; I always put my right sock on first, then I’ll do the left, next my pants, and then my jersey. I’ve done this my whole life.”

Miller also believes it to be bad luck to touch or step on the foul line before a game.

As individual players find themselves unique in their superstitions, South’s baseball team shares a few general ones. 

“I’d say the team superstition would be making sure we park our cars in the lot next to the baseball field every gameday,” senior Max Waszkiewicz, varsity baseball player said. 

“As a team, after we take, what we call, IO (infield and outfield warmups), our team gets in a line across the foul ball line and taps each other’s gloves to bring our team together and motivate each other,” Fundator added.

While some superstitions overlap with team traditions, other baseball and softball players have carried their pre-game traditions for seasons on end.

For varsity softball players, senior Caelyn Chorzempa and junior Camden Kiefer, after warmups, they always do their signature handshake before a game.

Senior Robbie Spang, varsity baseball player, finds a habit in music before a game.

“I love to listen to music on my airpods before games,” Spang said. “I start off with some chill music, maybe even an instrumental, and eventually I end with some hype music. I don’t really have one specific artist but I take good songs from many others.”

Kiefer’s emphasis on tradition is furthered by her love for doing her hair before a game. 

“Within the past year I’ve really enjoyed doing my hair in different ways/styles such as braids or bubble braids for games, which is actually pretty typical among softball players,” Kiefer added. “Personally, it’s something I just find super fun to do since it allows me to be creative, and making it part of my game day routine has ultimately helped get me in a good and ready mood for game day.”

Beyond just superstitions and traditions, South’s baseball and softball teams are emboldened by their dedication to their respective sports and pursuit for greatness.