By Tasha Ting (20S06F), Vice-captain and Max Koh (20S06U), Vice-captain

You stand at the plate. 3 balls, 2 strikes, 2 down, bases loaded. The winning run at third base. “Play ball.” Your grip on the bat firms, and you eye the ball with a renewed sense of hunger. Here’s the wind-up, and the pitch. 

Closer.

Closer.

1, 2, now.

There has always been an indescribable beauty in the dynamics of a game of softball—the unspoken chemistry, the unfathomable satisfaction of hitting that 12 inch red-threaded yellow ball over the fence, the nerve-wracking yet exciting feeling of jogging on the spot restlessly, waiting for the opponent to bat the ball to you, always ready for that dive, always ready to tag the runner out. There is also the love and unity within the team that seems so tangible, the comforting familiarity you feel while getting ready for softball trainings, and the yearning for the school day to end just so you can dash to the Y1-4 canteen to get changed for training. All these explains the immense love our players have for the sport. 

Despite its name, softball is far from a soft sport—for starters, the ball isn’t even soft. It’s a game which requires both your brains and brawns. It might seem daunting to even think of playing this sport at first, but what we can guarantee you is that the trepidation and apprehension you might have while entering the sport will definitely pay off in more ways than one when you leave the sport.

What does it mean to work as a team? “Your personal victory ends wherever the team’s victory ends.” Our head coach, Coach Farhan, is a firm believer in teamwork. Teamwork isn’t taking your respective places on the field just so that you have enough players to enter the tournament; teamwork isn’t about filling up all 9 places in the batting line-up; teamwork isn’t about training hard to be the MVP so you feel a sense of self-glorification. Teamwork is about the love, the bond, the camaraderie both on and off the field. We are not only teammates on the field, but also a band of brothers and sisters who do anything and everything together—from shouting into cones at Junction 8, to shouting “WHO WILL CATCH? CANNOOOOTTT PEEPEEPOOPOOMAN WILL CATCH. CORRECTTTT” (an inside joke that you will most definitely be exposed to once you join our CCA), and on a more serious note, just being there for one another through thick and thin.

Every year, both the boys and the girls team participate in the National Inter-School Games for ‘A’ Division Softball in the first half of the year.  In 2019, both our boys and girls achieved commendable results. The boys clinched overall first runners-up while our girls clinched overall second runners-up. In addition, the girls team took part in the annual tournament organised by Singapore Recreational Club and did us proud by coming in second-runners up as well. Regardless of the outcome, we give every game our best shot so that every training session pays off. 

Commitment and dedication is a big part of what we do, and we train thrice a week, every Tuesday (4-7pm), Wednesday (2.30-5.30pm) and Friday (4-7pm). 

The horrible aches in your quads after doing split squats, the blisters and calluses from batting and the enormous blue blacks—these are just glimpses of our depth of work. But this pain is incomparable to the joy that comes with the celebration of our best athletic moments and the culmination of our labour in a solid, good game. And the best part is: you will never walk alone. 

Reading this and can’t wait to be part of this big family? You are welcome to come down for our trials! Fret not, no prior experience and knowledge is required, but don’t forget your sunblock!