The motto for the Seymour softball team this spring is “grit.”

The textbook definition of the word grit is, “courage and resolve; strength of character.” But the Owls put a little twist on it, making it an acronym instead of a noun.

For the softball team, grit is growth, resilience, integrity and tenacity.

“It is a goal of ours to exemplify each and every day,” first-year head coach Emily Bobb said. “As a new head coach, my personal goal is that everyone that comes through the program leaves a better person because of it.”

Bobb has been an assistant with Seymour the past couple seasons, and after former head coach Jerry Burton decided to retire at the end of last season, Bobb assumed the head coaching position.

She graduated from Seymour High School in 2015 and was a former softball player herself, earning all-conference, all-state and all-district honors.

As she heads into her first season leading the charge in the dugout, she’s going to rely a lot on her experienced players.

“We have several returners that bring valuable experiences to our roster this season. Our varsity seniors, Alexia Rieckers and Kendall Allman, both plan to play collegiate softball and have a strong understanding of how competitive the Hoosier Hills Conference is,” Bobb said. “Addyson Coomer and Alexa Dannettelle are juniors with excellent work ethics and knowledge of the game. Phoebe Underwood and Abby Followell also got to experience the HHC last year and have truly bought into the culture I aspire to create within this program.”

Underwood was named the offensive player of the year for the junior varsity team last year.

The Owls went 14-10 last season and kick off the 2023 campaign with road games this week.

Seymour is at Brown County on Monday at 5:30 p.m., at Shelbyville on Tuesday at 5:30 and at Scottsburg on Thursday at 5:30.

The Owls’ first home game isn’t until next Tuesday, April 4, against Henryville.

“I am ecstatic for the start of the 2023 softball season,” Bobb said. “Our girls have worked so hard over the fall and winter, so I’m really looking forward to seeing them reap the benefits this spring. The team is looking forward to a competitive year of growing as a team, growing as athletes and growing as individuals.”