Coming off a 2021 season where the Governors posted the fewest losses in a season in the program's history, Austin Peay State University's softball team heads into the 2022 season with high expectations and a work ethic to match. This is 'Dugout Dish' a 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 season.

Hey everyone, my name is Skylar Sheridan, and I am a freshman on the Austin Peay State University softball team. I am a third baseman/catcher and my major is HHP (Health and Human Performance). I hope to become an occupational therapist one day. I am from Chattanooga, Tennessee, which is about three and a half hours away from Austin Peay.  

Since I am a freshman, everything has been a huge adjustment. We just finished our first week of workout(s). I say workout(s) plural because we work out three times a day, we have 6 a.m. weights and normally two individuals. On top of all of that, as freshmen, we also have a two-hour study hall twice a week. And if you guys think that sounds hard, we had to run our conditioning test in Miss Hurricane Ida.  

When it comes to classes, the workload is pretty reasonable and the professors seem to genuinely care. The atmosphere at APSU is very welcoming and diverse and I'm glad to call it my new home.  

Although this week has been full of challenges and my body has never felt worse, I honestly wouldn't want to be anywhere else.  

I have already made lifelong friends. My coaches and teammates have been all very welcoming and I'm not sure if they know this, but on behalf of the freshmen class, we greatly appreciate it.  

I also appreciate the study halls. Shoutout to Miss Katie (Etheridge), even though a two-hour study hall is quite dreadful, it's helpful.  

Lastly, a little advice to the girls who are grinding to get to where I am today, I hope this blog didn't scare you. College softball is definitely hard, but it is more than rewarding, so don't give up and keep working hard! Go Govs!