UCLA's Club Softball Team is getting ready for their 2025 season to begin, with their first weekend of games being February 15th. The team typically plays in a series of 3 games against one team, all back to back in one day to save on time and expenses. This season they will be playing USC, CSUF, UCI, NAU, and GCU, with their home games being played at the Glendale Sports Complex. The team is especially excited for their annual Arizona trip in April, where they will be playing away at NAU this year.
Fall quarter tryouts back in October brought many new additions for this year, so the team is looking forward to having a roster full of strength and depth. The team has been practicing twice every week since then, running through drills, situational plays, and conditioning to develop their skills and build chemistry. With a focus on teamwork and strategy, they are determined to perform at their best this season. The enthusiasm and energy from both new and returning players have set the tone for what promises to be an exciting and successful year.
This year the team also has a large executive board that, in the absence of an official coach, coordinates games, travel, practices, fundraising, social media, and team bonding, among numerous other things that enable the team to operate efficiently. Board members include Emily Hoffman (President), Paige Smith (Co-Vice President), Anahay Barajas Bautista (Co-Vice President), Cynthia Aguilar (Travel Coordinator), Maylin Garcia (Treasurer), Maddie Garcia (Social Chair), Jasmine Estrada (Media Relations), Rachel Fox (Safety Officer), and Julia Franks (Fundraising). These board members have been hard at work preparing for the upcoming season and are optimistic about the team's potential.
President Emily Hoffman is enthusiastic about this season, especially as it is her senior year. Emily says "For the 2025 season, I expect us to have strong competition from all the other teams in our league. While I'm disappointed that we only have 5 series instead of 6, I anticipate all of them to be highly competitive and fun for us and our fans. As for our team this year so far, I've been really happy with how we are looking. I feel like our last two entering classes have added a lot of skill and depth to our team, especially offensively. I'm looking forward to how we perform together in the coming season."
Off the field, the team is also looking forward to strengthening their bonds this quarter through casual hangouts at team members' apartments, cross-team socials with other club teams, and other fun activities together. These events not only build friendships but also create a strong sense of unity and camaraderie that translates into better teamwork on the field. Second-year Jasmine Estrada related that "Last year, my favorite part about this team was becoming friends with the girls, especially since it was my first year at UCLA and I didn't know a lot of people. They have become some of my closest friends and I've enjoyed getting to know the new girls who joined this fall. I'm excited to continue to bond with everyone and have fun playing with the team and hanging out outside of softball."
Best of luck on your season, Bruins!
