Senior right fielder excited for the season

Amanda Peters is a 22-year-old softball player for the UW-River Falls Falcons. She plays right field, is a backup first baseperson and wears the number 14 jersey. 

Peters has been playing sports since she was five years old. In high school, she played volleyball, basketball and softball. She was named All-Conference one year for softball and was also a co-captain her senior year.

Though she did enjoy playing volleyball and basketball in high school, Peters decided to play only softball in college because of the time restraints and her desire to focus on her demanding academic agenda.

Peters was recruited for the Falcons right out of high school. At that time she was playing first base. 

Though she did play part of the 2005 season, Peters did not letter in softball her freshman year with the Falcons. She had shoulder surgery in mid-April, forcing her to miss out on the last month of the season. 

Peters played first base for UWRF her freshman and sophomore years. Then her coach, Jody Gabriel, tried her at right field. Peters was even better at playing this position. 

“It was a big transition for me,” Peters said. “I like it now, but it took a while for me to get used to.”

As a senior on the Falcon softball team, Peters has taken on a definite leadership role on and off the field. When asked how she felt about this, Peters said she “likes to lead and speak her opinion.” 

Peters’ leadership role with the team is especially strong with the other outfielders. 

“They [the outfielders] look to me for leadership,” Peters said.

The other seniors on the team participate in important roles as leaders, as well. They bring a lot of experience to the table with a high combined number of years playing the game.

The Falcon women’s softball team has had a great start to their 2008 season.  They won their first two regular season games against Northland and St. Scholastica Feb. 29.

When asked how the season has been going so far, Peters said, “Amazing.  We’re just at a whole new level, and I have high hopes and high expectations for all of us.”

Peters attributes the team’s success thus far to their hard work and organization.  The team runs together twice a week and lifts weights three times a week. They are also organized so that the freshmen contribute just as much as the starters do. 

In addition to physical training, the softball team has also been working on mental preparation. The team’s three coaches—Gabriel, Pam Latterell and Amber Dohlman—have been providing them with guidance and with such mental exercises as reflection questions. 

Though the team has been doing exceptionally well and is expected to continue their successes, Peters explains how they try not to get overconfident.

“We need to work hard every day and come to practice with the mindset that nothing’s going to be given to us,” Peters said. “We need to earn everything we get.”

The team will play Concordia-Moorhead Friday and Augsburg College Saturday; both match-ups will be held at Augsburg.