Derrick Webb, Staff Writer
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
ATHENS — For close to 10 years now, the heart and soul of Athens’ softball program has been intact.
CREDIT: Brock Netter/SOSA
Most of the Bulldogs’ seniors have been together since they were seven or eight years old.
And during that 10-year period, the group has developed an unbreakable bond that’s now spearheading their success.
Right in the thick of that is second baseman Olivia Banks, one of the team’s unquestioned leaders.
For quite some time now, Banks has been … well … money in the bank, so to speak.
This year has been no different.
The senior is hitting a team-leading .507 alongside nine home runs, 43 runs scored and 32 RBIs.
But her own numbers, as gaudy as they are, couldn’t be further from what she’s actually focused on.
“All season long, I’ve just focused on doing my job for the team, whatever it may be,” Banks said. “Everything I do is for them. All that ever matters to me is winning the game ahead of us.”
That’s the type of attitude that Banks’ teammates have as well. They’re a selfless group that puts winning as priority number one.
And it’s worked.
Currently, Athens is 23-1 overall and ranked as the state’s No. 1 team in Division II.
“I honestly feel like trusting each other has been so important to our success,” Banks said. “We are super strong one through nine, so even when one person isn’t having a great day there’s eight other girls ready to pick them up. Each girl doesn’t have to be perfect every single game because we know the next girl’s got us.”
Trust.
That’s the sole characteristic that can transform a group of people into a team.
Banks and her teammates have mastered that part.
“Our biggest strength is our chemistry, without a doubt,” Banks said. “We’re able to trust each other and not have to worry about making mistakes, and that’s mostly because of how long we’ve all been playing together. I started playing with many of these girls at eight years old, and we’ve grown nothing but closer since then. We know how we all gel together on the field and it makes it so much easier to relax and play our game.”
Next up is a Division II district semifinal matchup on Monday against Logan Elm.
A win would catapult the Bulldogs into a district championship matchup against either Circleville or Sheridan.
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
But a loss would end Banks’ season and career. She’s aware of that and so is the rest of her classmates. They have a plan in place.
“We know that when the postseason hits, it’s do or die,” Banks said. “It’s a new level of locking in, especially with a team that is as senior-heavy as we are. It could all be over at any given game, so it’s super important to reach that level of focus in the postseason. We want to end our careers in the best way possible, by playing our best every single game. We’re a tough team to beat when we play our game.”
Athens has been a tough out all year long. Nothing should change throughout the postseason.
In district tournament play, the Bulldogs will be playing in front of, basically, a home crowd at Ohio University. That gives them a home field advantage and would make winning a district championship that much more special.
“Every tournament game we win is important, but winning [a district title] in front of a big home crowd at OU would be something super special,” Banks said. “We’ve had great community support this year and in years past, and it would mean so much to win it in front of them. Most importantly though, we want to do it for each other. Winning the next game in front of us is always the goal. We want to make as deep of a run as we can.”
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