Sophia Becker wants to just go out and play.

It sounds simple, but the sophomore catcher has tended to overthink her situations at the plate and in the field.

“I just have to go out there,” she said. “It was a little nerve-wracking last year. I would think too much about what I and we have to do instead of just playing the game. I’ve learned how to relax more and take it in stride.

“We are a young bunch of sophomores, and we will make our mistakes. We know we can play well, and we have to execute.”

Over the past two weeks, the Roughies have been besieged with weather cancellations. They began play this week with an overall 4-10 record. The Roughies will finish the season with six games over nine days.

“It has been hard on us,” said Becker. “When you play a lot of games in a row, it’s hard on you physically.

“We just have to keep battling through it.”

With their catcher lost to graduation last year, Becker made the move from third base to catcher this season, a positional move that was quite natural. Becker began playing T-ball when she was five.

“I have been catching since I started playing when I was very young,” she said. “I loved playing third base, but catching is the position in which I feel like I am at home. Playing third was fine, and I had to get used to the throws. It really came down to having it get inside my head, and just play softball.

“I played baseball when I was young, but then I moved to softball. Once I did that, I loved the sport.”

Head coach Paige Kogelman has appreciated Becker’s commitment on and off the field.

“Sophia is one of the most dedicated and passionate players I ever had a chance to coach, even play with,” said Kogelman. “Her self discipline to improve her skills is admirable.

“She has a natural athletic ability and will continue to excel in athletics due to her dedication to improvement. She is one of the highest academically ranked students in her class. She is an amazing role model, and I can’t wait to see what her future entails.”

Sophomore pitcher Delaney Troxell has been Becker’s teammate since their early youth days. She has realized Becker’s long-term commitments.

“She is a very hardworking player,” said Troxell. “She strives to make herself and others better. She and I stay after practice to work on pitching, catching, and hitting. She always wants to help our teammates and make them better.”

Becker noted a recent loss to Northern Lehigh can be a catalyst for the remainder of the season.

“In that game, it seemed like we all had the same high level of energy,” she said. “We were all together, and it was an amazing feeling. We had some great chemistry and fed off each other. Winning is always good, but you can also have a good loss.

“We have to take from that game, and use it moving forward.”