Senior Night is something many softball players look forward to all four years of their softball career, for multiple reasons. First, all underclassmen report down to the field directly after school. They then decorate the entire baseball and softball area. These decorations include hanging up multiple posters in the dugout made specifically for each individual senior. While the freshmen are doing this, the rest of the team decorates the sidewalk starting from the parking lot, leading all the way down to the field with chalk. The sidewalk is covered with inside jokes and cheers preparing them for the game.
“One of my favorite parts was seeing all of the of the chalking everyone did,” said Engleman.
However, the teammates are not the only ones helping to prepare for this night. Moms from the team spend several hours making displays of each senior with pictures leading up to this year.
After all of this took place, the seniors arrived to the field, admiring each aspect of the decorations. They then prepared for their game against one of their biggest rivalries, Jennings County.
Once both teams were warmed up, an announcer recognized each individual senior. During this time each senior’s parent walked them onto the field, while the announcer read off speeches each senior gave, which included their best memory of softball at this school. Each senior was then handed a bouquet of flowers. This was a very emotional time for many of them.
“Walking out on the field with my parents was a great feeling of achievement,” said Fultz.
Continuing on with the night, FC then defeated Jennings County 1-0. The starting players of the game were sophomore Morgan Harper at the mound, Feather at third, sophomore Taylor Batliner at shortstop, junior Bre Mayfield at second, sophomore Kateline Dreher at first, sophomore Taylor McClure behind the plate, Krammes in left field, Kaiser in center field, and Fultz in right field.
Although the victory over Jennings County was exciting, the event that happened last left many of the fans laughing. Another tradition for Senior Night is that the sophomores and juniors to perform a dance to some of the team’s favorite songs combined into one.
“My favorite part is the dance because it’s tradition that the underclassmen dance for us,” said Kaiser.
Beyond all of the exciting events that go on during Senior Night, there is still some seriousness and sadness to it.
Feather shared what she will miss most about leaving.
“I’ll miss being around the team because we have become a second family and we always have so much fun together.”
Fultz agreed with Feather in that aspect.
“I’m going to miss our coach and playing softball a lot, but most of all I’m going to miss all of the funny, talented, intelligent girls that made me laugh every day.”