Quesadillas, Brussels Sprouts And Thanks
November 19, 2021 | Softball, Joel Coleman
Bulldog softball team passes appreciation to its extended family.
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State softball is built on family values.
"Day in, day out, we harp on that; we have to rely on each other every day," shortstop Madisyn Kennedy said.
This past Wednesday, the Bulldogs made sure their extended family felt their love. Kennedy and her teammates all chipped in, cooked dishes and provided a meal for the MSU athletic department. It illustrated both the family foundation of head coach Samantha Ricketts' program, as well as allowed the Bulldogs themselves to give thanks to many who aid them behind the scenes.
"It's so nice and it's so important to see all these people because you don't really know all the people that go into making all this work," outfielder Brylie St. Clair said. "Then you see all these people here and you're like, 'Wow'. These are all people that have helped us out. It really helps us understand all that goes into making everything possible. It's really nice to see everybody and come out and have a good time with everybody."
Wednesday's menu was vast. Kennedy made Brussels Sprouts. Despite the fact…
"I don't actually like Brussels sprouts," she admitted. "I was just like, 'Hmm…People like Brussels sprouts. I should make it.'"
They were a hit.
"They were pretty popular," Kennedy said. "People told me they like them, so that's really good."
St. Clair said her own personal family makes corn casserole at Thanksgiving, so she whipped some up and shared it. But her eyes were far from corn casserole or Kennedy's Brussels sprouts or anything else.
"I'm really excited for all the desserts," St. Clair said. "I love desserts. I'll probably have two plates of desserts."
To be fair, there were some dishes that got criticized a little more than others. One unnamed first-year Bulldog brought microwaved quesadillas. Like a developing softball player on the diamond, Ricketts sees room to grow.
"First year in the program, so she was starting small," Ricketts said.
The bottom line though was that this day wasn't truly about the food. It was about Ricketts and her club showing appreciation to the many who put in hours behind the curtain to help lift State softball.
"The team doesn't get to see everyone behind the scenes that really helps out in the day-to-day operations," Ricketts said. "This is a good face-to-face so they understand, 'Hey, these are all the people that make us successful and set us up for success every day.' That's really why we do it."
The roles of each person who went through the line at MSU's indoor facility were different. Some worked in media relations, others in fundraising, some in facility management, travel, accounting, compliance or strength. But all, like the Bulldog softball players themselves, have Maroon and White pumping through their veins. A team built around family made sure even their figurative distant cousins felt the love.
"That's kind of what we're built around is family and what we try to build everything around," Kennedy said. "We know we can't do it any other way than being a family. That's how we're going to perform the best, play the best and be the best we can."
A lunch seems like such a small thing, but it's big all at the same time. Corn casserole and Brussels sprouts go a long way towards building and enhancing a family connection.
And yes, even microwaved quesadillas help, too, though they might not see a return to next year's spread.
"I told her I expect her to get better," Ricketts said.
