Sophomore a key contributor to softball success

The sound of a bat making contact, the snap of a glove, and the chanting of female dugouts can only mean one thing: softball season. With an untouchable team dynamic and an undefeated league record, the outstanding Falcons have been led and inspired by sophomore Alex Woody, a familiar face among Solano athletics who will be returning next year as an athletic trainer for the Solano sports medicine department. As a freshman on the softball team last year, Hogan graduate Woody was outnumbered by more experienced players. Plagued with a baseball-obtained dip in her swing and a shoulder injury, Woody "busted her butt" everyday and achieved what she describes as her greatest accomplishment and "the best feeling in the world" - her starting spot in the outfield. Since then, the self-motivator's goals and achievements revolved around her classes and her team. Coached by 2008 BVC Coach of the Year Terri Pearson-Bloom, Solano softball has a reputation of excellence. The team has won the Bay Valley Conference three years running, contributed seven players to the BVC all-conference team last year, including league MVP, and is ranked in the top 25 nationally for GPA. Even with a legacy like that, the team still found room to improve. This year's team chemistry is the absolute best Woody has ever experienced. Always together, always having fun - their enthusiasm is explosive on and off the field. Woody commented, "I can't say enough about how much I love this team." With team morale through the roof and unparalleled success, Woody and the girls were able to keep a good thing going and win the BVC title. They made it to playoffs, but were defeated in the first round. The Falcons can still be proud of a great year, though, finishing with a 15-1 league record, 25-10 record overall, and having five girls named to the all-conference team. Ending the 2009 softball season will be bittersweet... as one door closes for Woody at the end of this semester, another will open. She will retire an eight-year softball career and focus on her goal of becoming an athletic trainer. The Solano softball chapter may be ending for Woody from a player's perspective, but she will be able to stay with her girls as their trainer next year. "I'm really excited about it, but sad at the same time," said Woody. Solano has a great program for students pursuing a career in athletic training/sports medicine. Woody has been observing in the training room, treating her shoulder injury, and learning to tape and assist other student athletes. She will be working alongside other student interns and trainers under the supervision of head trainer Alison Aubert next year. Just as she is excited to work in the training room, the training staff is excited to have her. "We hope to have her continue working with the softball program, since she has a relationship with the coaches and players," Aubert said. "[Woody] will have great insight on the job due to her personal experience." After learning techniques to get her started in athletic training, such as stretching, taping, and basic physical therapy techniques here at Solano, Woody plans on transferring to Long Beach State to eventually earn her masters. She hopes to work at a university as the softball trainer, or come back as a head trainer at a junior college. With the support of her peers, teammates, mentors and most importantly, her own driving sense of motivation, these goals are entirely attainable. An irreplaceable asset to an unstoppable team, a hopeful prospect in the sports medicine department, and a social butterfly among SCC - Alex Woody is just an average girl with an inspirational work ethic and great attitude.

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