What it is like to be a D1 Softball Player

By Deomni Murray – former D1 All-Conference Softball Player

Part  1 

Freshman Year 

My journey to being a college softball player started many years before I ever stepped foot on a college campus.  It began when I was about five years old; just the sight of a softball field gave me excitement. It was place where I shined bright as a star illuminating the night’s sky. Those days were just the beginning of a journey that I had no idea I was about to embark upon. 

August 20, 2003

As my car drove into the parking lot of what would be my home for the next four years I began to think that what was once a dream was now my reality. I was entering into the next chapter of the journey which at the time had expanded my entire life time.  All the hard work had paid off I was a Division-I student-athlete for Florida International University in Miami, FL.  

“FRESHMAN” a word that I had to get really aquatinted with, not because I was treated badly but just because I must know my place at all times and be sure not to step out of line. No one cared that I played for a High School team where my class won 3 FHSAA State titles or that USA Today had ranked us No. 1 in the Nation at the end of my senior year.  No one on my softball team cared because I was no longer in high school I had made it to the next level.  I was just another freshman that coach brought in with great potential. Potential that could possibly be just that – “potential”.  If you remember only one thing from this article please remember this, no matter who you are or how good you are , when you first step on a college field you are still  “a freshman.”

Everything seems like it is going well because when school first starts,  you are not having practice as a team you are just having individuals –which are small group hitting and fielding sessions. As a team you only lift weights and condition.  Conditioning was at 6:30 am twice a week, and if you were one of the lucky players who did not make the required mile and half running time you would be running it every Friday at 6:30 until the season started.  I only made it twice during my career - my very first time I ran it my freshman year and the last time I ran it my senior year.  Other than that everything ran smoothly. I always did my required ten hours of study hall even if all I did was goof off with other teammates and athletes. I always made sure the student part of my new title was taken care even if it happened in the darkest hours of the night.   Then bam - you have your first team practice and this is where everything begins to get interesting. You were required to maintain your grades, be in the weight room three times a week,  get in ten hours of study hall, go to practice for three hours every day.  Sometime it was hard to squeeze in a meal. Time management became very important, every minute of every day was valuable.  I learned the ropes quickly, and sometimes that meant sacrificing precious hours of sleep to get stay on top of things and still have time left over to have a social life. Which in college we all know the social life is partying and in Miami the partying was magnified times ten.  Once I got the hang of things off the field life was great but on the field they were a little bit rocky.

I am a very confident but not cocky player. I believed that if you hit a ball to the outfield no matter how far I would get to it before it hit the ground. Well my first day of practice, from what I remember, was amazing, wherever my coach hit the ball I was tracking it down like a detective hunting for a criminal. I must say, a few of my teammates were impressed as they  give me compliments as we walked back to our locker room after practice.  My ability to play defense was what I prided myself on.  I knew there would be struggles at the plate since I had to transition from a righty to a lefty because of my speed.  In my mind defensively there were very few who had my abilities in the outfield.  

Well to say the least I believe my coach saw something very different in me.  Until this day she doesn’t know that I thought she hated me with a passion.  I was never in trouble, I always went to class, and showed up to practice on time.  I was a quiet, confident softball player, but I did not let what I seen as 
“dislike” change the person who my parents had raised. So I continued to be true to whom I was, I knew that if worked hard, stayed out of trouble, and did what was required of me I would soon win her over. 

Things didn’t go as planned, I would call home crying to my dad everyday about how horrible it was and that no matter what I did coach had something to say about it.  If I caught the ball - I didn’t catch it the right way. It was so bad the whole outfield had to run if I slapped my glove against my leg before I caught the ball.  I thought this lady was certifiable crazy, I never even realized I did such a thing.  As opening day approached I moved from left field to right field a position I never played before, but I assumed it was no different than the other outfield positions.  Well that night I made my usual phone call home to my dad, and told him about practice that day and how I was now practicing in right field and my father’s exact words were,  “ You know that your next stop is the bench.” My father knew what he was talking about opening day first game I was warming the bench, but I did it with a positive attitude even though my blood was boiling on the inside, I cheered my teammates on. Being a bad sport is the worst characteristic you can possibly portray in athletics. Besides I am sure she was watching me to see how I would react to sitting on the bench and I was not about to give her more fuel to throw on the flames.   I knew that my time would come and when it came I would be ready.  I would receive a few starts and playing time here and there, but nothing like I was use to.  Then we took our big trip to California and our first game was against top ten Cal Berkeley, I was  sure I would be watching this one from the bench,  but when the line-up card was read the  second name out of our assistants mouth was Deomni Murray. I was all smiles, because these were the games I lived for.  My chance had arrived and I was going to take full advantage of it. Although , I wish the weather could have been a little more conducive to playing softball in, it was freezing cold and raining.  We lost the game 1-0 but after the game I knew that my talents on the softball field could no longer be over looked.

Even though I began the season as the water girl I never gave up. I refused to let the situation determine my attitude which would then determine the outcome of my college career.  This story could have gone the opposite way I could have given up and transferred or even quit. I chose Florida International University to continue my softball career, but most importantly to get an education.  So the day I signed my Letter of Intent I knew that I would be there until the ultimate goal was complete and that was a college degree.  Through hard work, perseverance, and a little divine intervention before the season was over I was the starting center fielder.  

Freshman year is and will be the toughest year it will either make or break you as a person and athlete.  Either you lie down and die or you put on some gloves and begin to fight back.   My freshman year journey may not yours, but everyone’s will be filled with ups and downs so put on your seatbelt and enjoy the ride.  The great thing about this ride is you will never have to take it alone because your teammates are always there to supporting you during the most turbulent times. 

Deomni Murray

Check next month for part 2 of this series