Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics
The Right Side Of Routine
February 07, 2022 | Softball
STARKVILLE – In high school, Bri Bower was a pitcher of many superstitions. She had her quirks, and all her teammates knew about them. But Bower thought nothing of them. In fact, she had a hard time remembering them herself until her family and friends reminded her.
Take for example her team's run to the first team state championship in Huntley High School's history. Bower always arrived early for games, so she could do her teammates' hair. As she was walking in for the regional round, she saw a penny on the ground, heads up, and decided to pick it up. She placed it in her right pocket and went on her way.
When Huntley won that game, Bower was convinced it was with the help of her penny, so she kept it up.
"For sectionals, I went around the parking lot and found another penny, so I kept two. I ended up with seven pennies in my pocket," she said. "I still have the pennies in my ring box. I have seven pennies, and they were all brand new. I remember which penny was found for each game."
Pennies aren't the only thing she carries in her pockets before she takes the field. She has a habit of getting caught with snacks at the wrong times.
Once before a basketball walkthrough, she had visited the vending machine for a packet of cookies. She ran out of time to eat them, so she shoved them in her right sock.
"I was eating them while the coach was talking and not looking," she said. "Then coach looked down and saw my sock sticking out. He made me take the Oreos out of my sock and throw them away, but I am always packing food."
Then there was the batting practice round where her coach discovered she had not just a pop tart in her back right pocket, but also a chicken sandwich in the left.
If you're noticing a trend, you'd be right. The pennies, the Oreos, the pop tart, all carried on the right.
"Everything has to be on the right side," Bower said. "Honestly, I can write with my left hand, but it is sloppy. I think my right arm is ten times bigger than my left arm just because I do everything right-handed."
There's one ritual however, that rests on her left hand. Bower has always pitched with a Rawlings glove, and the large, red circle-R logo on the thumb has been a key in her mental approach to the game.
She scribbled "reset" above it and imagined it as a button. Whenever things weren't going her team's way, she threw a bad inning or a teammate made an error behind her the team would circle up and press the "button" on Bower's glove. But if we're honest, even pushing that button involved her right side.
Say what you will about her quirks and beliefs – Bower even once slept in a batting helmet on the bus so she wouldn't get a headache from the bumpy road – but they've worked for her. Huntley did win that state title after all, and it was a moment the town wouldn't forget.
"We were the underdogs, and people did not think we could do it. Our town and community backed us up, and they packed the stands," she remembered. "After we won, they had cars lined up. The school parking lot was full, and people showed us how proud they were."
The entire team was given a pair of gifts from the mayor. They each hold a glass key to the city and were given a get out of jail free card from the game Monopoly for minor traffic stops. Bower never got to use hers before leaving for college, and it eventually was torn, but her teammates and coach made the most of them.
"I know my coach used it, and he had 12 extra. I think he went through a couple," she said. "I have never needed the get out of jail free card, but I kept it with me everywhere I went."
Her high school experience has shown her the power of firsts. She knows it's still possible to achieve a feat that no one before her has. She said that Mississippi State's baseball team provided a similar example to her before arriving in Starkville.
"It gave us a look in on what could happen to us if we do the hard work. If we do that and come together as a team, then we could go far," Bower said.
And if her superstitious pennies can help the team, Bower is willing to continue collecting them.
"I will let them come to me," she said. "I will not go look for one, but if I see one, I will pick it up.
Take for example her team's run to the first team state championship in Huntley High School's history. Bower always arrived early for games, so she could do her teammates' hair. As she was walking in for the regional round, she saw a penny on the ground, heads up, and decided to pick it up. She placed it in her right pocket and went on her way.
When Huntley won that game, Bower was convinced it was with the help of her penny, so she kept it up.
"For sectionals, I went around the parking lot and found another penny, so I kept two. I ended up with seven pennies in my pocket," she said. "I still have the pennies in my ring box. I have seven pennies, and they were all brand new. I remember which penny was found for each game."
Pennies aren't the only thing she carries in her pockets before she takes the field. She has a habit of getting caught with snacks at the wrong times.
Once before a basketball walkthrough, she had visited the vending machine for a packet of cookies. She ran out of time to eat them, so she shoved them in her right sock.
"I was eating them while the coach was talking and not looking," she said. "Then coach looked down and saw my sock sticking out. He made me take the Oreos out of my sock and throw them away, but I am always packing food."
Then there was the batting practice round where her coach discovered she had not just a pop tart in her back right pocket, but also a chicken sandwich in the left.
If you're noticing a trend, you'd be right. The pennies, the Oreos, the pop tart, all carried on the right.
"Everything has to be on the right side," Bower said. "Honestly, I can write with my left hand, but it is sloppy. I think my right arm is ten times bigger than my left arm just because I do everything right-handed."
There's one ritual however, that rests on her left hand. Bower has always pitched with a Rawlings glove, and the large, red circle-R logo on the thumb has been a key in her mental approach to the game.
She scribbled "reset" above it and imagined it as a button. Whenever things weren't going her team's way, she threw a bad inning or a teammate made an error behind her the team would circle up and press the "button" on Bower's glove. But if we're honest, even pushing that button involved her right side.
Say what you will about her quirks and beliefs – Bower even once slept in a batting helmet on the bus so she wouldn't get a headache from the bumpy road – but they've worked for her. Huntley did win that state title after all, and it was a moment the town wouldn't forget.
"We were the underdogs, and people did not think we could do it. Our town and community backed us up, and they packed the stands," she remembered. "After we won, they had cars lined up. The school parking lot was full, and people showed us how proud they were."
The entire team was given a pair of gifts from the mayor. They each hold a glass key to the city and were given a get out of jail free card from the game Monopoly for minor traffic stops. Bower never got to use hers before leaving for college, and it eventually was torn, but her teammates and coach made the most of them.
"I know my coach used it, and he had 12 extra. I think he went through a couple," she said. "I have never needed the get out of jail free card, but I kept it with me everywhere I went."
Her high school experience has shown her the power of firsts. She knows it's still possible to achieve a feat that no one before her has. She said that Mississippi State's baseball team provided a similar example to her before arriving in Starkville.
"It gave us a look in on what could happen to us if we do the hard work. If we do that and come together as a team, then we could go far," Bower said.
And if her superstitious pennies can help the team, Bower is willing to continue collecting them.
"I will let them come to me," she said. "I will not go look for one, but if I see one, I will pick it up.
SOFTBALL | Rounding Third: Morgan Bernardini
Wednesday, April 01
SOFTBALL | Postgame Press Conference vs. South Carolina (Game 3)
Monday, March 30
SOFTBALL | Highlights vs. South Carolina (Game 3)
Monday, March 30
SOFTBALL | Highlights vs. South Carolina (Game 2)
Sunday, March 29