ROCHESTER, Mich. —
Rachel Zerona has been a figure of consistency in the outfield for the Golden Grizzly softball program since her arrival to campus in 2016. The senior outfielder has logged 149-career starts in her five-year career at Oakland and has her eyes set on a Horizon League Championship this season.
How does it feel to be back on the field after a COVID-shortened 2020 season?
It feels really good to be back. I did not know if I was going to get the extra year of eligibility to come back since last season was technically my senior year.
Do you have any pregame routines to prep yourself for gamedays?
Not really. I do not like to overthink it because I get superstitious about things, so I try to keep my routine the same and not listen to anything before the game. I kind of think of it as being another day, which gets me in a better mindset compared to being like, "Oh my gosh, it's gameday!"
What has head coach Lauren Karn taught you either on or off the field that you use in everyday life?
She has taught me how to be myself and not to let other people's opinions affect me.
Is there one thing you learned about yourself from the past year?
We cannot take playing this game for granted because we all saw what can happen. For this year, one of my goals is to simply enjoy playing and to be okay with this being my last year as a Golden Grizzly.
What has been your favorite show to binge-watch over the last year?
My all-time favorite show is New Girl, but I have been watching a lot of Schitt's Creek lately.
Who is the funniest teammate at Oakland?
It is probably one of the freshmen. We call her Oaky, but her actual name is Makayla (
Makayla Jauregui). I am not trying to sound biased, but our entire team is pretty funny.
What are you looking forward to most once the pandemic is over?
Mostly just being at sporting events like Detroit Tigers' games in-person. Obviously, I always want to be in the Women's College World Series, but that is another event I would like to see live once the pandemic is over.
Do you have a favorite Detroit Tiger?
I do not have a current favorite Detroit Tiger, but my favorite players of all-time are Brandon Inge and J.D. Martinez.
What is your favorite softball memory at Oakland?
It would have to be when we took second in the Horizon League Tournament back in 2018. It was just a fun year with the energy on our team and it being the first year for coach Lauren. You could tell everyone was so happy to be together. We were the underdogs all season long, so it felt good to prove people wrong and finish in second place.
Did you pick being an outfielder or how did you end up playing that position?
I did not really pick it. I played infield when I was younger, but as I got older, my coaches placed me in the outfield and I grew into the position. Ever since I have loved getting fly balls and being out in the grass.
Lastly, what is your favorite part of being on this team?
My favorite part about being on the team is the friendships I have made. I have made lifelong friends and I am very grateful for that.
