A lucky rabbit’s foot, four leaf clovers or lucky pennies.

People say good luck can be brought their way by doing certain things or by carrying certain objects around, and for some members of the Sacramento State softball team, things are no different.

Traditions and superstitions have been around for years, and at the rate of some people’s beliefs they are here to stay.

A tradition can be as simple as adjusting your batting gloves before batting or not stepping on the chalked lines of the diamond before taking the field.

Izmena Cabrera, the team’s left fielder, considers herself to be very superstitious.

“I have to do my hair the same way on game days ? and if I don’t I will think about it and I won’t feel comfortable,” Cabrera said.

Doing her hair a certain way is probably the simplest part of Cabrera’s game routine.

During the game, Cabrera goes through a routine every time she steps in the batter’s box.

“I go up to the plate, tap my helmet, then I fix the dirt around home, and take three practice swings before pointing to the pitcher,” Cabrera said.

While Cabrera was playing at the College of

Charleston in South Carolina, her need to be superstitious picked up.

“When you’re around it, you want to think of something to do ? when your team is superstitious,” Cabrera said.

Coach Kathy Strahan said playing at certain levels is demanding mentally, so people who are superstitious need that to stay comfortable.

“Competing at high levels athletically is more mental than anything else, so if an athlete believes something he or she ate or did right before a successful outing, then he or she is more likely to repeat it,” Strahan said.

Senior Hilary Johnson agrees with her coach about the game being largely mental, but being superstitious for her doesn’t work.

“They work for some people. I don’t care to have them because I don’t want to be in that mind set,” Johnson said.

Rituals for some athletes are a necessity because it helps them get prepared to play.

“Yes, they’re necessary if the players believe it helped them get into that zone,” Strahan said.

Pitcher Kayla Meeks and third baseman Sherry Clark have had a ritual in games in which they have played together, but for Meeks it doesn’t have any effect on her mentally.

After an out is recorded, Clark cleans the ball and slaps Meeks on the leg with her glove before telling her to shut up and pitch.

“I’m not superstitious at all ? because if something goes wrong then you’re out of luck,” Meeks said.

Some rituals can be as simple as wearing the same pair of socks or as easy as wearing the same jersey number every year.

But members of the Hornet softball team have seen some outrageous rituals.

“I had a teammate who had to eat plain white bread with butter on it before every game until she was full,” Cabrera said.

On last year’s Sac State squad, Johnson teamed with a player who drank a coke before every game.

Being mentally prepared is key for the Hornets, especially since for some the game is more mental than it is physical.

“I’d say the game is 60 percent mental; if you put it in your head that you can’t do something, then you won’t be able to,” Johnson said.

If players are strong believers that the things they do during and prior to a game help, then their mental aspect of the game will change.

“I absolutely think the mental part of the game can help a player grow,” Strahan said.

The Hornets kick off the Capital Classic Tournament against Princeton University on Friday at the Sacramento Softball Complex.

Jose Martinez can be reached at [email protected]