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Comets’ freshman Eckert overcomes obstacles to perform at high level
While in Kansas City last year with her summer softball team, the Outsiders, Auxvasse, Missouri native Patri Eckert was ready to call it quits on her softball career. Eckert, who was under the weather and dealing with a knee injury suffered the previous day, was informed that a college coach had showed up to watch her play.
Not really wanting to play, Eckert arrived at the park that Sunday feeling ill and hobbled with the knee brace. The coach there to recruit her was Mark Skapin, who had recently been hired as the Cottey Comets’ head softball coach.
“Coach Skapin watched me play two games,” Eckert recalled. “Afterwards, he talked to me about Cottey, and about how he wanted me to play for him. And I changed my mind. I wanted to play softball and I wanted to play for coach Mark.”
Prior to her visit with Skapin, Eckert had already made post softball career plans, as she had been accepted to Missouri State University and was planning on rooming with her best friend.
“I decided I was going to stop looking for colleges to play softball at because I just wanted to focus on school,” she said. “After talking with Mark, he really seemed like he loved the game and sounded like he was a great coach. He has not proved me wrong once. Playing college softball at Cottey has been the best decision I have ever made.”
Eckert, who attended North Callaway High School in East Central Missouri, said she has had to overcome some major obstacles to get to this point in her softball career. Eckert said one of those obstacles is having a “weak mental game.”
“I am a very competitive person,” she said. “I love to win and I love to be the best. I used to be the kid that threw her helmet and cried after striking out. I was a sore loser and only thought about myself throughout the whole game.”
Eckert said advancing from junior high and youth summer leagues to high school softball was an eye-opening experience. She described junior high softball as more laid back, where coaches would put up with borderline immature behavior.
“(At North Callaway HS) I had two coaches who played D1 softball at Mizzou,” Eckert explained. “And let me tell you, after the first time I threw my helmet, I never did it again with them as my coaches. They made me run so much for that. After that stage, it was like I was terrified to let my team down. When the bases were loaded and I was up to bat, I was so afraid. I would choke and I didn’t believe in myself.”
One of Eckert’s biggest moments this season came in a mid-April road contest at Fort Scott Community College. Eckert, who had been in a slump, came through with a key bases loaded hit that helped propel Cottey to a 13-11 comeback victory.
“I truly believe that this season I have overcome (not believing in myself),” she said. “Of course I have many things to work on, but this is the most confidence I have ever had in myself when it comes to softball. If the bases are loaded, I know I can score them.”
Skapin was so impressed with the strides Eckert made on the field that he named her Comets’ co-captain.
“If I was the player I used to be there’s no way I could ever be named team captain,” she said. “I have to thank coach Skapin for believing in me and helping me overcome adversity this season. It has made me a better team player and a better person in general.”
Skapin described Eckert as a natural leader, who brings “tremendous passion, intensity and energy every day.”
“So many athletes struggle with the mental game and staying in the moment,” said Skapin. “We preach being ‘where your feet are’ and trusting the process. Patri has also recently read Ken Ravizza’s book ‘Heads Up Baseball,’ which focuses on the mental game and can be applied to any sport. Ravizza’s book and our daily focus on the process have helped her relax and play one pitch at a time.”
In an alternate reality Eckert would be preparing for finals right now at Missouri State University. With her softball career on life-support not long ago Eckert, a right fielder who hits atop the Comets’ order, is now preparing for the NJCAA Division II District Championships, beginning Thursday in Danville, Illinois –– after having helped lead Cottey to its first-ever regional crown.
“Patri is the heart and soul of this team,” said Skapin. “She has been instrumental in changing the culture of the program, and has been a great captain to go along with Jess Manderino for this team to rally behind.”
Skapin continued: “It means everything to me that Patri feels like she made the best decision of her life. I hope to have a positive impact on each of my players every day, so her comment means more to me than winning any game.”
Eckert added that she has formed a close bond with her teammates, as Skapin and company have engineered their remarkable single-season turnaround. Entering the season, Cottey had won only three of its previous 88 games between 2014-16. Cottey, now 15-17 overall, is one of only 32 teams left standing in NJCAA Division II softball.
“We were truly seen as the underdogs,” said Eckert. “Everyone we played expected to beat us. And all the blood, sweat, and tears that we each put into this season has paid off because everyone knows we’re not the old Cottey anymore.”
No. 1 influence
Eckert, who has been playing softball since fifth-grade, when she fell in love with the game, said her father is her biggest influence.
“He has always pushed me to my limits and helped me as much as he possibly could,” she said. “He caught for me when I thought I was a pitcher, played catch with me until it was dark, went to the field to get extra reps in after a long day of working and came up with new drills for me to do.”
Eckert’s parents, Darren and Sheila made the three and a half hour drive for this past weekend’s Region 16 Tournament at Vanek Family Field.
“He’s bought me so many new bats and comes to cheer me on every single chance he gets,” said Eckert. “I know how proud he is of me and I am really so thankful for him. I wouldn’t be the player I am today without him.”
Eckert said her favorite professional athlete is Alex Hugo of the Akron Racers.
“Watching her play just makes me want to get on the field and play with her,” said Eckert. “She is such an amazing athlete and an amazing team leader as well.”
Eckert is currently working towards a major in health sciences and plans on pursuing a career in physical therapy.