Although baseball might seem like a simple sport to some, it requires a great deal of skill, strength, and concentration. To help them perform to the best of their abilities, players often perform a multitude of rituals leading up to their games to ensure that they play well. Whether it is snacking on a certain food or listening to music, these seemingly simple steps can sometimes determine the baseball player’s performance during game time.
For senior Ryder Fiala, his glove, lovingly deemed as “his baby,” is his source of luck. “I make sure it’s broken just right and always keep it in the same spot in my bag,” stated Fiala. “I don’t let anyone else mess with it.”
However, Fiala believes that it is not only his glove that affects his luck. During Fiala’s junior year, he decided to stop chewing gum whilst pitching, since he had a couple of bad outings. “I convinced myself that the gum was the problem, and my pitching improved after that, so now it’s a rule. No gum when I’m on the mound,” explained Fiala.
Throughout his time playing for the baseball team, senior Dane Marsh has seen teammates partake in a variety of odd activities, one of the most memorable being teammate Caleb Fletcher, a Prep Baseball Report player, looking for airplanes in the sky leading up to gametime. “He would literally stand outside the dugout and watch the sky, just checking flight paths or something,” expressed Marsh. “We all thought it was super random, but he was dead serious about it every time.”
Like Fiala, Marsh has used his glove in almost every baseball game, and believes that it brings him good luck. “It’s kind of my security blanket at this point,” stated Marsh. “I trust that glove more than anything else I bring to the field.”
Along with his glove and other equipment, Marsh is always sure to pack his pregame snack of apple slices and peanut butter. “It’s simple, but solid. It gets me some good energy without feeling too heavy. I’ve been doing that for a while and it’s a good balance of healthy and tasty,” remarked Marsh.
Although it is unknown whether a player’s pregame meal or ritual truly does affect their performance, each athletic superstition is unique to the player and provides a sense of security and familiarity before a stressful game. With the help of Fiala’s “baby” and Marsh’s apple slices and peanut butter, the Varsity Baseball Team is bound to have an incredible season.