The University of Oklahoma womenâs softball team gave all glory to God for helping them stay in a very important game.
On Thursday, the team sat down for a press conference for the Womenâs College World Series (WCWS) after beating Florida State by a score of 3-1. The team won its third National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) championship at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City that evening, according to USA Today.
âI know you talk about keeping the joy of the game, but Iâm curious, itâs a long season, right? And you guys have had the target on your back the entire time,â an ESPN reporter asked several women on the team.
He added, âHow do you handle the unique pressure that comes with that? How do you keep the joy for so long when anxiety seems like a thing that could very easily set in?â
âWell, the only way that you can have a joy that doesnât fade away is from the Lord,â infielder Grace Lyons said.
Nehemiah 8:10 says, âDo not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.â
Lyons emphasized, âAny other type of joy is actually happiness that comes from circumstances and outcomes.â
She explained the importance of having joy whether the team wins or loses.
âThankfully, weâve had a lot of success this year, but if it was the other way around, joy from the Lord is the only thing that can keep you embracing those memories, moments, friendships,â Lyons continued. âThatâs really the only answer to that because thereâs no other way that softball can bring you that because of how much failure comes in it and just how much of a rollercoaster the game can be.â
Outfielder Jayda Coleman echoed those sentiments by agreeing with Lyons â1000%.â
Coleman explained even though theyâve worked their âbutts off to be hereâ and have a desire to win, âitâs not the end of the worldâ if they do lose âbecause our life is in Christ, and thatâs all that matters.â
Third baseman Alyssa Brito spoke about the team keeping its âeyes upâ and having its âeyes on Christ.â
âYou canât find a fulfillment in an outcome, whether itâs good or bad. I think thatâs why weâre so steady in what we do and our love for each other and our love for the game because we know this game is giving us the opportunity to glorify God,â Brito said.
