Fresh off back-to-back 30-plus win seasons for the first time in program history, Austin Peay State University's softball team heads into the 2020 season with high expectations and a work ethic to match. This is 'Dugout Dish' blog where each student-athlete on the team will take an opportunity to write a post highlighting the goings on of the squad, beginning with fall training and continuing all the way through the 2020 season.

The Governors have finally returned to school and are settled in. Classes started the 21^st of January and we are on our way to setting a new team GPA.

The winter break consisted of keeping up with our conditioning and weight training, as well as keeping our softball game in tune.

The softball team also did our own mini snapchat take over, as we each picked a day to post into our team's group snapchat. This gave us an opportunity to show our teammates what we did over break daily and show a part of our home that we don't often get to see of our teammates.

I liked this experience because it was a unique way to stay connected with my teammates.

After returning on Sunday, January 19^th, we started our morning bright and early with an 8 a.m. conditioning test. The entire team completed this test before we left for winter break and passed with flying colors, hoping to maintain that effort we took it on again. The run resulted in the entire team passing effort.

The team also had the pleasure of spending an hour Sunday listening to Steve Watterson, who was the Tennessee Titan's strength and conditioning coach.

He served the Titan's team for 32 years and was the longest tenured NFL assistant coach with consecutive years working for the same team and was named 1992 Professional Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year.

The team was able to listen to his journey and how he got to where he was. Mr. Watterson gave the APSU softball team some good advice on how to work together as a team and what it took to be successful on and off the field.

We will look to apply his knowledge and advice in the upcoming season and can't wait to see it pay off.

Monday night after practicing, the coaches took us all out to City Forum, which is a business in Clarksville that hosts family fun games such as bowling, race cars, bumper cars, arcade, laser tag, food and a few other attractions.

The team had a blast competing against each other in a new environment. To be able to spend time with teammates that we haven't seen since before winter break was a blast.

The first week of practice was mainly inside due to the cold weather and some unwanted rain. We were able to get out on the field for some team defense and a scrimmage on Saturday.

On Thursday night, the entire team attended the home basketball game against Tennessee State. During half time of this game the student athletes with a 3.0 GPA or higher were recognized and a special shout out to those who maintained a 4.0 GPA. The softball team was pleased to present three players in the 4.0 category of the recognition.

The Govs first game is Feb 8^th against UT Chattanooga and we are so excited to get back on the field and start our journey to an OVC championship.