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05/10/2018 12:00 AMThroughout her career as a softball player, Sara Barreira has learned that a positive approach at the plate, in the field, and toward one’s team can really bring things together nicely. That philosophy is paying off tenfold for both Sara and her teammates on the Guilford softball squad this spring.
Sara is a senior captain who plays second base for the Indians. After helping Guilford reach its first SCC Tournament final last year, Sara is having a nice senior season to the tune of a .270 batting average with 12 runs scored for the Indians, who are 10-4 and headed back to the postseason.
“I think the best thing for me and the whole team is this mindset,” says Sara, who grew up playing for Guilford’s travel and showcase teams. “It’s a mindset that if you go up to bat and don’t get the pitch or hit you want or you make an error in the field—you shake it off, make adjustments, and keep playing.”
Sara is constantly in the middle of the action when she’s patrolling second base. Sara likes playing that position and how it forces her to always keep her eyes peeled.
“I like second, because as a middle infielder, you are involved in every play. You are getting involved in a cutoff throw or backing up your pitcher,” Sara says. “You are always on your toes, and there is never a dull moment.”
As a captain, Sara realizes how important it is to lead her team when things get difficult on the field. She believes that keeping an upbeat spirit is the best way to overcome those hurdles.
“Being a captain can be challenging when you have to make sure everyone keeps their heads up and stays in the game, no matter who we play,” Sara says. “I just try and stay on top of things and make sure the team is moving forward.”
Indians’ skipper Steve Zajac praises Sara’s commitment to improving her own game, along with how she often lends a hand to Guilford’s up-and-coming athletes. Zajac also notes a recent accolade that demonstrates Sara’s dedication to academic success.
“Sara has been a varsity player since her freshman year, a fixture in the starting lineup the last three years as a shortstop for her sophomore year and our second baseman for the last two. She has been very dedicated to softball, often playing year-round,” says Zajac. “Sara is always willing to help younger, new players with our infield drills. She has been a mainstay in our infield and will be tough to replace next season. Sara was recently named to the Scholar Athlete Classic, which highlights area players that achieve in the classroom, on the softball field, and spend time volunteering to help others.”
Sara has become a more confident infielder as a result of working with Coach Zajac for the last four seasons. She knows just what to do whenever the ball is hit to her in any given situation.
“Coach Zajac has been amazing for the past four years. I feel a lot more confident on the field or in an at-bat,” says Sara. “I’ve improved in my confidence a lot. Now, I know what to do when a ground ball is hit to me and believe I can do it, and I’m always thinking two steps ahead.”
The Indians are hungry for a conference crown after getting a taste of the SCC spotlight last spring. Guilford will have to deal with a deep field of teams in order to achieve that goal, but according to Sara, the most important thing for the Indians is that they stay within themselves.
“A big goal of ours is to get back into the SCC Tournament and the final. The seniors say how the SCC final last year was one of the most fun games we played, because we did something Guilford teams before us didn’t,” says Sara. “If we put our heads in the game and put up runs, we have a chance of winning games. We just have to play our game.”