"I have been to Cancun, Paris, Belgium, Amsterdam, Germany, Luxembourg, and pretty much all over Europe," said Buffalo's star softball pitcher Sophie Barstad. "After this season is done, I plan on going to Puerto Rico with my sister."
For the junior Canby, Ore., native, traveling is more than just a hobby. The softball team is on the road for the preseason, and won't see any Mid-American Conference action until March 31. So far, its record has been split down the middle. The Bulls are 4-4 against the non-conference teams Harvard, Michigan, St. John's, Boston University and Notre Dame.
Barstad has already been named to an All-Tournament team this season, for her efforts at the Golden Panther Invitational when she drove in six RBIs, five of them in one game. The hurler also pitched for an impressive 1.02 ERA in the tournament. The accolade was also enough to secure her UB Athlete of the Week honors.
Laura Kor, a teammate and fellow Oregonian, said Barstad is focused and determined on the field.
"All I remember of Sophie in high school was when we'd go up against her, we'd just tell ourselves 'It's going be a long game, and we have to try and hit the ball off her.' She was faster than most of the high school girls we saw," Kor said.
Barstad started softball because of her older sister, who played for a 12-and-under team.
"I was 8, and they needed a pick-up player, so they asked me, and that's how it all started," she said.
Her abilities landed her an opportunity to play at an array of schools, including Rutgers, Fairfield, Portland State and UB. Distance was a factor in her choice, so she knew Portland State was out of the selection from the get-go.
"Actually, I kind of wanted to leave home. My sister was playing at Virginia and we are really close," Barstad said. "I wanted to come out East. I chose UB because it was a budding program."
While playing away from home, Barstad said Nan Harvey Field for the Bulls is always nice to come back to after a long, preseason away stretch.
"Home games are nice with traveling so much," Barstad said. "We're never here in the preseason. We get really pumped when we get a home game."
"I wouldn't say it's hard staying focused being a pitcher, but I can't really speak for everyone else. I usually play one game out of the two," Barstad said. "I usually pitch the first or second game and have a game break, which helps."
Barstand said that softball players have their superstitions and pregame rituals, and that she is no different.
"Well, I always put on my left sock, then my left shoe first," Barstad said. "I'm also pretty quiet before games."
Her ritual seems to do the trick. She has a 3-1 record on the mound, a 2.02 overall ERA, has given up just two homeruns and has delivered 13 strikeouts for the Bulls.
While a long preseason may throw a team's concentration off track, Barstad doesn't find much difficulty staying focused.
The Bulls will begin their home stretch on March 31 when they take on Bowling Green, looking to avenge last season's three losses to the Falcons.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
