When it comes time for a road trip, former New Hope High School standout DJ Sanders can have a bag packed in a matter of minutes.
Sanders has seen her softball career take her all the way from Lafayette, Louisiana to Eugene, Oregon, with a stop in New Zealand, as well.
Still her all-time favorite trip may be the one ongoing.
Sanders will start at shortstop today when No. 1 seed Oregon (52-8) takes on No. 8 seed Arizona State (48-11) in the opening game of the Women’s College World Series.
Game time at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium is 11 a.m. on ESPN.
Even the team’s practice session Wednesday morning was emotional for Sanders, who played three seasons at the University of Louisiana, Lafayette before transferring to Oregon for her senior season.
“This has been much more than I ever expected,” Sanders said. “To be on that field was overwhelming. You grow up wanting to play here in this event. Honestly, I had doubts that it would happen for me. Now, it has. It’s a little surreal. There is a just a lot of excitement.”
Sanders has provided a lot of excitement for the Ducks this season. She is hitting .293 with the team’s second-best total in home runs (16) and runs batted in (51). The numbers were good enough to be taken with the No. 21 overall pick by the Chicago Bandits earlier this season in the National Pro Fastpitch draft.
While at ULL, Sanders played in three regional tournaments and barely missed Oklahoma City, losing twice in a super regional.
When Michael Lotief was not retained as the ULL coach, Sanders started looking for a new home.
“Honestly, when I came (to Oregon), I knew if I didn’t like it, I wouldn’t be here long,” Sanders said. “It was like just make sure you make it through the semester. There is some apprehension when you move this far. The team took care of all of my anxiety right away. We win a lot of games, because of the togetherness on this team. It’s just a real close-knit group. They made me feel at home right away. Honestly, you believe in yourself but you are worried because going from the Sun Belt Conference to the Pac-12 is a big jump. The coaches and players made me feel right at home.”
Sanders even felt right at home in another country.
“The best part of this story is I get to Eugene on a Friday and the next day (the team) started on a trip to New Zealand,” Sanders said. “(Coach Mike White) is from there, so he likes to take the team back there. We played eight games over there. I am trying to get to know everybody and we are in another country, and all that. I have to admit I went to bed a few nights wondering exactly what I was doing and if I was ready for this.”
One of the Sun Belt Conference’s most prolific hitters, White already knew about Sanders before the two started working on a coach-player relationship. Sanders admits she has not had a major culture shock, playing more than 2,400 miles from home.
“It would be totally different if this was for four years,” Sanders said. “It’s all been about softball and school for me. I haven’t done a lot of sight-seeing. It’s just been a focus on softball for my senior season and making sure all of my classes are taken care of. When my teammates go somewhere, I am in. We have a lot of players from all over the country and that has made things easier.”
Oregon will be making its fifth WCWS appearance in White’s nine seasons as head coach. The Ducks are still looking for their first national championship.
“This is a special team,” Sanders said. “We just don’t have that one superstar. From player one to player 18 or 19, we have players who can contribute. Each day, it’s doing to be somebody different in the newspaper. That’s what is exciting. From me personally, it took a little while to adjust to the Pac-12, because it is a battle every weekend. That’s how you (get to Oklahoma City). You do it by winning those battles. It makes you believe you can do anything.”
Granted, Oregon did have a program-best four selections when the National Fastpitch Coaches Association released its all-American teams Wednesday.
Upon completion of the WCWS, Sanders will then be able to turn her attention to her professional career. Much like playing in Oklahoma City, being chosen in the draft was a huge honor.
“It’s been all about this season, that I really haven’t had a lot of time to reflect on being drafted,” Sanders said. “I do now my parents have a lot family in Chicago. They are excited they can come see me play and spend time with family.”
For now, Sanders will try to play her role and help her team back its No. 1 ranking.
“Anything can happen in Oklahoma City,” Sanders said. “It’s been a long four years. Even this year, I have grown a lot and learned so much more about the game. It’s time to relish these final games.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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