Week 3 with President Talaugon

(EDITOR'S NOTE: Sonoma State softball senior and 2010-11 Student-Athlete Advisory Committee President Jesse Talaugon will keep her own blog this year at http://jessetalaugon.blogspot.com/, but we will keep this page up to date with any new blog posts she creates as well.)

This week was really focused around personal improvement because we are almost certain that this fourth week, we will be tested once again on the 12 gassers. We have to make them within the allowed time frame or the coaches will take our improving fitness into their own hands and this is something we as a team we feel we can handle on our own. We are still going out there twice a week at 7 a.m. doing our own self-conditioning along with optional conditioning on Sunday's, where those who need it attend. Practices are becoming a lot more engaging and instead of spending a great deal of time on actual skills, we handle that during our individual sessions with the coaches. It is there that we are split into groups based on positions -- corners, middles, outfield, pitchers/catchers. This allows us to spend our time wisely and efficiently on the field and we've been able to work on things like cuts, run downs, pick offs, live defense, and "game time". Game time is basically a game-like situation where Coach Bridges is the pitcher and Coach Mack (McCormick) gives signs and rotates players in and out of defense and offense. This allows for everyone to get time on the field, whether it be offensively and defensively. It is definitely one of the more fun components of our practices. Things are looking up and I am confident that this Friday, we will get the job done and satisfy the coaches.

School is in full swing right now and for one of my Communications classes, I work as a Public Relations specialist for the school newspaper and sell ad space. It's a really cool opportunity to take on real life responsibilities in a somewhat controlled setting. My goal is to sell four ads each week, so I'm definitely going to need to network myself throughout Rohnert Park and Cotati if I plan to meet that quota each week. My media law class is pretty tedious and four hours of late night class after hitting, weights, and conditioning isn't the most lively of times, but I'm hopeful the agenda will start to have some variety and I'll dread that class less.

I'm really excited about what we have planned for SAAC, we are currently working with the American Cancer Society and contributing to their annual Breast Cancer Walk because with all of the teams conflicting schedules with games and practices, we cannot physically attend, but we are gathering funds to donate. We are also planning on partnering with the Boys & Girls Club of Sonoma County this semester and seeing how we can contribute to their cause. Also, with the recent disaster in San Bruno we would like to see how we can donate their and help with those relief efforts.

Wish me and the team luck this week!