For Brianna DeSilva, leadership starts with mindset. The Grove junior, a key two-way player for the Lady Ridgerunners, enters each season with something bigger than stats on her mind. “One of my main goals this season is to keep a positive attitude no matter the outcome of the game and to be a good leader,” she said. Whether in the circle or on the corners of the infield, DeSilva understands that energy is contagious.
That mindset was forged during a demanding offseason. “We had a lot more challenging workouts this offseason,” DeSilva said. “Some of them helped us focus on strengthening simple things while others just helped us get more in shape.” The result? A team better prepared physically and mentally—and a noticeable shift in the way the group approaches the game. “I think overall the team attitude is so much better compared to other years we’ve played.”
As the season unfolds, DeSilva believes that playing for each other will be the key to Grove’s success. “I think some of our team goals should be to make sure we play as a team and not just for ourselves,” she said. “We need to learn to have trust in each other and we will be just fine.”
So far, the chemistry has shown. “I think our team’s biggest strength is everyone staying engaged and talking each other up,” she added. “Everyone wants to be the best and we are all very competitive.”
DeSilva brings versatility to the lineup, playing pitcher, third base, and first base. When reading a defense, she’s locked in on how to help her team find an edge. “I try to look for holes or weak positions to use to our advantage.” Her game-day routine is simple: “Stretching my shoulders is the biggest thing for me and just making sure everything is loose.”
Her approach to every pitch is grounded in control. “My mindset stepping on the field is to control what I can control and try to perform to the best of my ability.” Long term, DeSilva hopes her legacy goes beyond the field. “I would love to just be someone that the little girls can look up to how I looked up to the high school girls when I was little.”
After high school, she plans to enter the medical field—possibly as a surgeon or chiropractor—but for now, she’s focused on another big year at Grove.
