Wednesday, May 14 — After getting the much desired — yet unexpected — call to postseason, our team went into a mild state of panic.

Shopping around to book a flight for our 30-person party within two days, rescheduling our final exams with professors, moving out of our campus apartments, saying goodbye to friends for the summer, and sneaking in a practice all required skillful planning.

But we did it.

After two flights, a red-eye seven-hour bus ride, and makeshift meals, we made it.

We arrived in Tempe, Ariz., weary and heavy-eyed, dragging our bags to our rooms and climbing into bed for a four-hour nap before we got together for a light practice.

Thursday, we have an allotted one-hour practice at the Arizona State softball field, where we will be playing on Friday.

The anticipation of competing in a regional tournament is an emotional high. This is what we train for all season — to make our mark in the world of softball.

I keep having flashbacks of last year when we were one game away from the World Series.

After being the unseeded winners of the UCLA regional, I remember going to Tennessee, where they already had pre-made shirts for the anticipated winning team that said: "Beat UCLA."

This tournament will be a challenge. We have struggled to dominate other teams this season, although we do field a strong team. I would love nothing more than to go to the Super-Regionals and take home with me a pre-made shirt saying: "Beat Arizona State."

Side notes: I've been forced to acknowledge that I'm rooming with the self-proclaimed "coolest person" on the team, Malama Manuma. ... Katie Grimes owes our whole van Wendy's Frosties for being late to our van when we left for dinner. ... And a shout-out to Alana Power, our former second baseman, who will be providing me with daily journal critiques.