The significance didn’t hit DJ Sanders until she heard the national anthem.
Up until that point, Sanders enjoyed her opportunity to play against some of the best players in the world as a member of the USA Softball Junior Women’s National Team, but the enormity of the moment didn’t sink in until “The Star
Spangled Banner” started to play.
That’s when the fact that she had just won a gold medal representing her country hit her.
“Being on the podium with the national anthem playing was the (most memorable experience),” Sanders said. “They didn’t play national anthems for either team before the games. If we hadn’t won, Japan’s national anthem would have been the last one heard. Being on the podium and hearing our national anthem was the best thing ever.”
Sanders went 1-for-4 Saturday in Team USA’s 8-1 victory against Japan in the Gold Medal Game of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Junior Women’s World Championship. The victory helped Team USA cap a 10-0 run through the tournament, which started Aug. 9. It was the fifth time Team USA has won the JWWC, tying Japan for most first-place finishes.
The tournament ended a busy summer for Sanders that also featured an opportunity to play in the World Cup of Softball X in July in Southern California.
Sanders, a former standout at New Hope High School and a rising sophomore at Louisiana-Lafayette, had a hit in every game and was 14-for-24 (.583 batting average). She scored nine runs, had eight RBIs, hit one home run, and had three doubles. She hit her home run in the Team USA’s first game of the event, a 10-0 win against Chinese Taipei.
Sanders said she panicked prior to her first at-bat because one of her other teammates, who was an alternate that game and wasn’t in the dugout, had her bat, so she had to scramble to use another bat. She said she grabbed a bat — a drop 8, which was eight ounces lighter than the length, rather than her usual drop 10 — and hoped for the best. She said she just swung and didn’t see the home run fly out between left and center field.
‘I hope it helps me become more like a leader,” Sanders said of the experience. “I hope this experience will give me more experience and I will be able to go back and help my teammates.”
University of Louisiana-Lafayette softball coach Michael Lotief said the experience will help Sanders mentally and physically. He said the success Sanders had will prove to her that her hard work and her preparation will allow her to compete against anyone in the world.
“It all goes back to her character and who she is and her expectations,” Lotief said in a text message. “She is not a kid who gets caught up in labels or titles or awards. She is about competing.”
Sanders had her best game — a 3-for-3 effort — in a 16-0 victory against Brazil on Aug. 11. She had a double, an RBI, and scored two runs in the game. She had two hits in two other games.
“You don’t really think about what you are doing, but this is the USA,” Sanders said. “I represent the president. Thinking about it like that is pretty cool.”
Sanders downplayed her success, but acknowledged she thought she did well, especially playing as many positions as she did. She said she played shortstop, first base, left field, right field, and even put on the catcher’s gear and served as a backup “for a little while,” according to Sanders. Her time at first base was her first since she started her softball career in T-Ball by catching a line drive.
“I am used to being back at shortstop back where I have better reaction time,” said Sanders, who also had time to teach her Team USA teammates how to be a pitcher in slow-pitch softball. “I am not as quick as I thought. There was one hit toward me and I was good that I got out of the way of it.”
Lotief isn’t sure if first base will be in Sanders’ future at ULL, but he believes the tournaments helped her make an impression on the Team USA coaches. He hopes that will help Sanders’ chances in the future if softball is again played in the Olympics.
“She has experience of competing on the international stage. That’s the purpose of the junior team,” Lotief said. “But there are so many good players across the USA and it depends on so many factors. Is she good enough? Most definitely. Will (she get a chance to play for the National Team or in the Olympics)? Stay tuned.”
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.