Junior varsity is something players often hope to skip entirely or speed past before making their way to varsity and not looking back, not for Arizona Lutheran Academy softball.

Arizona Lutheran has fewer than 300 students, which makes even having enough players for a JV team difficult. However this does not deter the ALA softball team from making the most out of the JV experience.

“We have some girls who are playing softball for the first time on JV but in a way it makes it more enjoyable,” said head coach Eric Carmack.

Carmack gave his varsity players the day off after a grueling week in which they played three games all with very high run totals. The Coyotes played two games where they scored over 15 runs and also a game where they got shut out 10-0.

Still, two varsity players stepped up and decided to come help with the JV team and get some extra reps in. Elie Drexler and Jenna Danzeisen, both juniors, have played for the Coyotes since they were freshman, and, on what was meant to be their day off, showed up to help both themselves and also the players that will one day take their place.

“When you lose like that (10-0) it really makes me want to get out there and improve, especially when the other games we played went so well,” said Danzeisen.

Both the players and coaches emphasized that when you have a small team the biggest advantage you can have is knowing each other and being like a family no matter what. Drexler started playing softball her freshman year and noted how important older and more experienced players helping her was to her improvement and love of the game.

“It's much easier to criticize and take that criticism when you feel close to the people on your team,” said Drexler.

Carmack doubled down on Drexler's point, saying that hearing something from another player can sometimes stick more than if you heard it from the coach.  He also emphasized the importance of developing leadership skills for both the JV and varsity players.

“They experienced it (player help) when they were on JV, and if you ask them I think they will agree that doing this and getting some extra help alongside it is helpful to them as players and as people” said Carmack.

This was JV’s first game despite varsity already being underway for three weeks. Carmack is happy for the extra practice.  He believes the point of JV is to get the best experience for the players, and he says sometimes that means having more practice before the first game.

“Having them (Drexler and Danzeisen) here at the first game I think makes the JV players feel like they matter and that we are trying to make them better instead of leaving them until they are good enough,” said Carmack.

So while many may see JV as a stepping stone or something to be ashamed of, both ALA and its players acknowledge its importance in the role it has in development of players and to the community spirit of sports as a whole.

“I started playing softball my freshman year and I loved it and I don't think I would love it as much if I didn't have the time to learn and I want the new players on the team this year to feel the same way,” said Drexler.