Page 62 March 2015 ARCADIA SPORTS By Nicholas Smith Ariana Abalos doesn’t have a true position on the Arcadia high school softball team. She’s a utility player, someone who plays multiple positions in different games. Basically, she’s good enough to play anywhere on the diamond. “I play at third base a lot,” said Abalos, who is a sophomore at Arcadia. “I’ve also played a good amount of [shortstop]. I can really play wherever they want me.” Abalos started playing softball when she was 6 years old. Her older brother was playing baseball at the time and Ariana wanted to try her hand at a similar sport. She played volleyball growing up as well. “I love the team aspect of softball: how it feels after you win as a team,” she said. “You worked your butt off and now you get to celebrate.” As a freshman, Abalos made the varsity team. The team played well and finished with a winning record but didn’t get into the playoffs because of a lack of power points. “You get a certain amount of power points depending on the record of the opponent you play,” explained Abalos. “The better your opponent, the more points you’ll get. By Tina Tombs From the distance it flies to the direction it travels, where your ball contacts the face of your club plays a major role in every shot you hit. In fact, missing the sweet spot by even a few millimeters can have dramatic (and sometimes disastrous) results. If you want to add more consistency to your game, making solid contact and hitting the ball in the middle of the clubface is a must. Next time you’re at the driving range, try this simple drill and you’ll strike the sweet spot more often. Spray white foot powder on your clubface. Next, line up a ball in your hitting area of the clubface. Position your club directly behind the ball. Hit some balls and see where you are making contact on the face of the club. When you feel like your contact is better, try this advanced drill: • Push two white tees into the ground – one on either side of your club. • Try hitting the ball without your club touching either of the tees. If this is too difficult, move the tees farther apart until you are able to successfully complete the drill a few times. Once you get the hang of it, you can Ball to club position vital slowly move the tees in and narrow the gap through which your club has to pass. If this is too easy, stagger the tees so that the tee closest to your feet is out in front of the ball and the tee farthest from your feet is behind the ball. This encourages you to swing your club between the two tees. It also encourages you to swing on a good swing path, which creates more solid contact with the ball. Don’t worry about the direction the ball is traveling when you’re doing this drill – just focus on making solid contact with the center of the clubface. Do this for a few minutes each time you’re at the driving range to hone your ball striking and improve your consistency. Tina Tombs is the 2014 LPGA Central Section Teacher of the Year and Director of Instruction and an LPGA Tour Professional. Contact her at tina@tinatombsgolf.com. Versatile player at Arcadia So there were teams with worse records than us who made the playoffs.” The team is determined to not let that happen again this year. Abalos says that the team is aiming high on their goals for this season. “I’ll honestly be surprised if we don’t go undefeated in the regular season,” she said. “We want to have as good a regular season as we possibly can and then go as far as we possibly can in the playoffs.” Although she is willing to play any position the team needs her to, Abalos didn’t hesitate for a minute when asked which position she enjoys the most. “I like third base the most,” she said. “When playing shortstop or second and a ball is hit to you, you have too much time to think. I don’t like that. I like to just react. And because the balls come to third faster and harder, reacting is all you have time to do.” Abalos enjoys math the most out of all her classes and is a solid A’s and B’s student. She is hoping that her softball talents can one day take her to a big-time school to play. “I would love to get a full ride scholarship to a Division I school,” she said. “Anybody that would take me, I’d love it.” Ariana Abalos enjoys the team aspect of softball. Follow the Titans. A rcadiaNews.com Visit Sports at: DUI CLASSES ONLINE! 3200 N Hayden Rd ~ Suite 170 - Just South of Osborn Rd 480.429.9044 WOW! ONLINE DUI SERVICES! SCOTTSDALETREATMENT.COM ARIZONA’S FIRST ONLINE DUI SERVICES HOME • OFFICE • TRAVEL ANYWHERE YOU CAN “LOG ON!” ONLINE SERVICES: MVD • SR-22 ALCOHOL SCREENINGS, EDUCATION & TREATMENT ARIZONA’S FIRST ONLINE DUI SERVICES Compare our rates. CALL US LAST!