Mike Vukovcan ‘Success at anything will always come down to this: focus and effort. And we control both.’
This is famous quote wasn’t made for Hopewell sophomore Alana Covalt but it’s a pretty accurate way to describe her mindset when it comes to playing softball.
Anyone that knows Alana are well aware of the countless time she puts into practicing athletics, specifically trying to improve in softball. Whether it’s going up to the fields at the Kane Road Complex with her father or going to Hopewell High School or just taking swings in her garage at home, Covalt has been working to become the very best player that she can develop into.
However, this mindset and work ethic isn’t one that Covalt has possessed her entire life. That’s where the importance and guidance of parents come into play.
“My dad has really helped me develop a good work ethic,” Covalt tells Vikings Sports Now. “Before his help, I’d honestly consider myself lazy and would play a lot of Fortnite or sit around the house or sleep a lot. Basically, I was being a lazy bum.”
“My dad repeatedly told me that if you want to become good, you need to put the work into making that happen. It’s not just going to happen. He’d tell me to become good, talent is only half of it, it’s all about putting the time into making it happen.”
That drive, push, encouragement, whatever you want to describe it as, has helped Alana as she enters her second season on the Hopewell Varsity Softball team.
Thanks to a long offseason of working out and practicing, Covalt believes she’s prepared both physically and mentally to be a better player than she was a year ago.
“Last year, I struggled with my mentality, and I’d get mad at myself a lot if I wasn’t playing well,” said Covalt. “But this year, I’ve just learned to let it go and just try and tell myself that I can’t go back and change things or plays that happened.”
“I finally started to realize that me being mad at myself wasn’t doing me any good and isn’t going to change anything. If I stay mad it’s likely to have a negative impact in things that happen the rest of the game because I won’t be approaching situations with any confidence. In athletics and in life, you have to realize that you can grow from mistakes.”
That’s a very mature way to look at things considering she’s only a sophomore but that’s not surprising if you know Alana. This season, the Hopewell coaches have placed her into a couple of high-pressure spots as the leadoff hitter and a member of the starting rotation and she’s been outstanding at both.
Hopewell’s Alana Covalt
Thru 5 games, Covalt is batting (9-15), with 4 BB, 4 RBI and 6 runs scored. On the mound, she’s pitched a total of 8.2 innings in 4 games, allowing 1 earned run, 5 hits, 7 walks and striking out 15 batters.
The change in her mental approach, coupled with her preparation has gotten Covalt results.
“It’s been fun (being part of Hopewell’s rotation), makes me feel important (laughing).”
Alana described the pitching routine in terms of practice. She says that one day she works just on fast balls and screwball and curveball and then the next day she works solely on her change up. Covalt changes that routine every day.
When reviewing her work as the leadoff hitter, Alana is pleased to this point, citing the fact that she hasn’t struck out much, has drawn walks and is putting the ball in play.
Hopewell’s Alana Covalt
“The one thing that I am working hard to improve on is to not always swing at the first pitch and have better pitch selection,” said Covalt. “It’s hard for me not to be aggressive.”
Following their impressive 14-8 win over Central Valley, Hopewell has a record of 3-2 and will have one more non-section game before the real season begins.
My final question was about team goals for the season, in terms of wins, playoffs, etc. but Alana wasn’t settling for anything minor.
“Get that WPIAL medal.”
You have to love her mentality! Good Luck Lady Vikings!
