Batter Up Down Under: Toledo Trio Takes Australia

TOLEDO, Ohio – The sound of bat against a softball and cheering from the dugout is a familiar sound on gameday to Toledo softball's Jenna Kroll, Lexi Eckman and Jenna Kroll, but this summer those sounds came from the fields in Australia. The trio just returned from a 12-day excursion in playing for the 2023 Beyond Sports DI Softball Tour, which left an unforgettable mark on the sport they love.

Beyond Sports co-founder Josh Erickson reached out to Toledo head coach Jessica Bracamonte expressing interest in having Kroll, Eckman and Griffith compete in the tour. The three Rockets agreed to participate, not wanting to miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

For Griffith and Eckman, this was their first time leaving the country. The thrill of playing with their Toledo teammates, other competitive DI players, and against Australian players sent the already exciting experience to another level.

"It was super fun playing with other Division I athletes from across the country," Griffith said. "It was fun playing with them at our practices and also competing against them in mixed intersquad we had, with some Australian player mixed in. Playing against and with some of the Australians was also a great experience, while learning to communicate and have fun with them."

Eckman echoed Griffith's statement. "The idea of playing with girls from all over the country is such a cool experience and something that I'll never forget," Eckman said. "Playing the Australians was so awesome. We got to talk with them a little bit and had a cookout after each game. All the Australian players were so welcoming which made it even better!"

The Rockets appreciated the opportunities like these do not present themselves to many college athletes. The teams focused on the joy of the sport and comradery that is reflected internationally. Outside of playing, the Rockets relished in a chance to mingle with teammates from other prestigious programs and native Australian players, forming connections and friendships.

Kroll reflected on the journey that left an impression on her emotionally. "This was a one-of-a-kind experience!" Kroll said. "To play with and become friends with players from all over the country was such a unique opportunity that I will always be grateful for. Playing against the Australian players was such an amazing experience. To hear how they got into playing softball and bonding with them over the game we all love was such a surreal feeling!"

Amidst the beautiful landscape, the wildlife emerged as another enchanting feature to the trio's time down under. Griffith's eyes sparkled as she recounted the kangaroos hopping around near their practice fields and holding a koala bear for the first time. Kroll, too, reminisced about the wildlife sanctuary and being in the presence of animals she can't see in the United States.

Eckman found reflected on the beauty that surrounded her beyond the diamond. "My favorite part was seeing the sunset each night and playing under such a pretty scenery," Eckman shared with a smile on her face. "I would say traveling to Gold Coast and seeing the beach and shops was my favorite part. We also got to go snorkeling which was obviously my favorite activity."

The three Rockets had similar answers when asked if the experience would've been different had they not been with anyone else from Toledo.

"Getting to experience everything in Australia with Jenna and Lexi is something I'll never forget," Griffith said.

"To travel across the world with your best friends is so much fun," Kroll added. "We did everything together and it was just so much better having them there to experience it with!"

"It made things a lot smoother and less nerve-racking having my two teammates with me because I'm familiar with them and we went through the nervous parts together," Eckman said. "I think it would've made me branch out a little more if I weren't on the same team as them, but I'm glad we were all together."

Players Mentioned

Lexi Eckman

Jenna Kroll

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