It may seem strange, but somehow a bunch of Bruins have come to call themselves wolves.
For the past few seasons, No. 15 UCLA softball (17-5) has come up with a new team motto that it uses it for motivation throughout the year. Last year, the motto was “one shot.” This year, it is “the wolf pack.” The team will carry that motto into the Stacy Winberg Memorial Tournament at Easton Stadium this weekend.
“It’s something to get us connected,” said junior first baseman Brittany Moeai. “Something we can think about when we feel like we’re by ourselves or we’re having a tough game, we’re part of a wolf pack.”
The Bruins’ seniors came up with the mantra, going as far as assigning each player their own “wolf name.” Not only that, but each name carried certain meaning and ties to the player it was given to.
“We all try to live up to the expectation to the name we’ve been given,” said sophomore leftfielder Gabrielle Maurice. “For example, my name is ‘Grey,’ so I think it meant gifted and poised. It gives us something to work for on the year.”
The motto extends even further. Moeai said the players’ gloves have their wolf names on them, and the team’s senior rock, which sits just outside Easton Stadium, can now be seen with a wolf and moon painted on it.
While the Bruins have solidified their new team expression for the season, the play on the field has not been quite as concrete.
UCLA has dropped a number of games, and their play has been sporadic at times. The team has shown an ability to win big, including eight contests being called short because of the NCAA mercy rule which gives the umpire the ability to call a game after five or more innings if one team is leading by eight or more runs. On the other side, the Bruins have thus far lacked the ability to win some of their more closely-contested games. The team is 0-3 in games decided by two runs or less.
“We have lacked energy, so (it’s about) being more consistent throughout,” said junior infielder Mysha Sataraka. “I know we play six games in a tournament, but being consistent from game one to game six, I think is a big thing for us.”
This weekend marks the final tournament for UCLA before Pac-12 conference play, and will provide the last opportunity to make any necessary adjustments before starting the regular season. The Bruins said they are excited about getting the opportunity to come back home after playing 16-straight games away from Easton Stadium.
“Even physically, I love playing at home,” Maurice said. “You get to sleep in your own room. You get to go to the field. Your family friends get to come. So it’s a better feeling to stay at home.”
Whether UCLA can turn the Bruins’ den into a wolf’s den and find more success on the field remains to be seen. Regardless, the team has said its new motto brings them closer together.
“It’s kind of a silly thing, but it’s cool to fall back on our motto is ‘the pack,’” Maurice said. “(It says) we’re all together as one.”