paige vargas

senior, pitcher

LUCY

me get stronger and build my endurance. My pitching motion has changed a whole lot since I was a freshman, like every year I feel like it changes.

But I’ve also progressed mentally just because, obviously, Division I is not easy. But I used to put everything on the line—I let softball define me and I realized now that it’s not a life or death situation. Of course you want to win and that obviously losing won’t make you happy, but it’s not the end of the world. I’ve also been through enough [to] the point where I feel like I can get myself out of tough situations.

That has to be so freeing now, not being defined by your performance.

Yeah, definitely coming in as a freshman I identified myself as an athlete. So, how I pitched in a game really affected how I felt after. But I think now, playing in my last year and knowing that I have plans after here, I think that really just changed my perspective on how I control my emotions during the game. Obviously, I’ll be upset if something doesn’t go our way, but I know that we’re really just here to have fun. That’s why we have sports.

Is there anything in particular you are looking forward to this season?

We’re all very much looking forward to Mexico. I’m sure you’ve heard that already. I went my freshman year, and I’m the only girl on the team that has been to Mexico. So, I kind of know what it’s like down there and it’s awesome. I’m super excited that I’m able to go again. Mexico is cool because all the teams stay in the same resort and it’s just about a five-minute walk to the field. And there’ll be days where we have fun trips or get to do fun stuff there. And we play some pretty good teams in Mexico. We play a couple of teams that we played last year. So both getting revenge, but also just beating them again are the goals. But Mexico for sure is the top one. And I think Minnesota will be cool to play in US Bank Stadium.

What do you have planned for post graduation?

I’m going to go to grad school for physical therapy. I don’t know where exactly I’m going yet.

Awards

• Summit League Tournament MVP (‘19)

• Summit League Freshman of the Year (‘19)

• 2x All-Summit League Second Team (‘19, ‘22)

• 2x Summit League AllAcademic Team (‘20, ‘22)

• 2x Summit League AllTournament Team (‘19, ‘22)

• Summit League Pitcher of the Week (‘20)

• NFCA Scholar Athlete (‘19)

• 2x Summit League Commissioner’s List of Academic Excellence (‘21, ‘22)

• 3x Summit League Honor Roll (‘19, ‘21, ‘22)w

Career stats

• 46-35 W-L Record

• 57 Complete Games

• 16 Shutouts

• 492.2 Innings Pitched

• 383 Strikeouts

• 3.04 ERA