The 2016 Rams Reflect is the first in a series of annual collections. Senior captains and representatives of Suffolk teams have been invited to contribute viewpoints based on personal experience from both their senior seasons and full varsity careers at Suffolk.
For a complete listing of the 2016 Rams’ Reflections, click here.
Meredith Ball, Softball | Hometown: Nahant, Mass. | Major: Marketing
An open letter to Suffolk Softball:
Four short years ago, I found myself knocking on Coach Jaclyn Davis’ door to ask about tryouts. Prior to that moment, it took me 30 minutes of pacing back and forth and self-pep talking to build up the courage to introduce myself. Coach and I were both new to Suffolk that year, and I was nervous that having been recruited by someone else, that I may not meet Coach’s expectations or would not be able to balance sports with college academics. Looking back at myself as a freshman, I was as shy as they come (I know you won’t believe that). Although confident on any field or court as an athlete, I wouldn’t open my mouth unless coach was talking to me. Now, fast forward and we’ve had four seasons together, and now my teammates say, “Merry, you never stop talking!” I am filled with gratitude to those who made the tough transition from high school to college and team-to-team easier for me due to their kindnesses.
Thank you to my freshman year teammates who welcomed me with open arms. You taught me to be myself, trust myself and laugh at myself. Two key players befriended me so that I didn't feel alone and made sure I lasted through that first fall semester. Erin McAndrews and Sarah Chasse, I will never forget your kindness - you were my connection to home and to what I knew was possible after high school. You are two of the best athletes I know and your kindness made me feel like I belonged so that transfer application got shredded at Christmas.
Thank you Nicole Isakson, for sticking with me for all four years. We did it together with you as a steady, positive attitude and energy in every inning of every game.
My favorite memory from that first season was playing in the North End and taking pictures with Zdeno Chara and Brad Marchand from the Bruins! Although that season was filled with happy memories, there is one event that made us step back and realize how grateful we truly are to have each other. The Boston Marathon Bombing happened at the tail end of our season. It was a tragic event that really brought us closer together. Thanks to coach, we grew as a team and climbed our way through the ranks to beat Norwich (the #1 seed) in the first round of playoffs. We made it to the final game in the GNAC championship, and even though we did not come out on top, it was an incredible experience to accomplish with only 11 players - half of most teams.
College is a time of change and transformation. The same is true of college teams as players graduate or transfer and new recruits and assistant coaches arrive. We grew to 14 strong my sophomore year and helped coach welcome recruits and watched our Captain Erin break records, leading the team in pretty much every stat. Coach Jen and Coach Lauren taught us new skills and rewarded us with Skittles at first base. Again we made it to the GNAC tournament finishing higher in the season than that first year. Thanks to our junior and senior players, we all strived to push our skill sets and stats.
Junior year was very different. Prior to season starting, coach chose me as a captain, an honor and a privilege I took seriously - it was my turn to help our younger players during the fall semester transition and we welcomed the biggest band of recruits to the Suffolk Softball program with the team at 17 strong. Wow, you new girls were as motivated as they come. You had drive and determination to become the best and any worry we had of losing Erin’s big batting was soon put to rest as you made records of your own. An injury took me out of eight games, and as a team you picked me up, and still ran forward toward success until I could return. Thank you girls for pushing us even further with a regular season #1 finish, another trip to the GNAC tournament and a trip to the ECAC tourney as well. Quite an accomplishment for such a young team - 13 underclassman.
So now it is my senior year, I’m honored to be a second-year captain, and soon it will be time for me to hang up my cleats and hand in my last laundry loop with my dirty uniform. We welcomed five more freshmen this year and we’re stable at 18, with depth at every position. We dedicated the new field in East Boston and christened it with a double header win against Emerson after returning from Florida with our best start yet. We are mid-season as I write this and already we’ve had not just double plays but triple ones.
Coach has trusted me as the anchor in the outfield at center field for all four years and other than the catcher position, it provides the best view of the entire team in action while on the field. I may be bias, but we are an impressive group and pick each other up, each one contributing when the other cannot. We are “All In” with our goal, the GNAC Championship and beyond, and I hope you all remember that since I’d like to play as long as possible. I’ve had a uniform on as an athlete since I was five-years-old and I’d like to keep it on as long as possible. I’ve loved it all, no matter which sport I’ve played, however, I’ve learned more about myself and pushed myself further with all of you than in any other phase of my journey.
This team has brought me experiences I will take with me for the rest of my life. My relationships with you have taught me trust, determination, strength, discipline, persistence, confidence and humility - all the qualities it takes to be a leader on and off the field. The moments we’ve shared like 6 a.m. practices, ice baths, early morning games, long bus rides, setting season records, Florida Spring training, and many more will stay with me forever. Thank you for spending every day with me, bonding at team dinners and apple picking, packing the vans, dancing on the field, and mostly the laughter while allowing me to be myself. We have really become a close knit family, you are all one of a kind, and you are truly able to pick me up when I am down. You understand the meaning of being a good teammate. Being a student-athlete is hard work and having a large support system that you can rely on every day is important. It’s an honor to be able to call you girls my second family.
Now I stand inside coach’s office, with confidence, talking strategy, planning details, and asking advice for graduate school, work, and beyond. I’ve mastered multitasking with schoolwork, jobs, and softball. Thank you for the transformation; I’m forever a proud member of Ram Nation. If only the NCAA would allow me more than four years to play!
Go Rams!
Meredith Ball
#10 Center Field
Class of 2016