Sophomore utility player Delaney Rummell makes every moment count. In the process, she has found and molded her role on the team, her groove on the field and her consistent mindset. She has overcome challenge after challenge, each time motivating herself to push through toward success. At a young age until now, Rummell has been on a journey through highs and lows, but nevertheless, she persisted.
Before even turning fourteen, Rummell had two surgeries after tearing her ACLs in both legs. Her world suddenly flipped upside-down; she took this crucial moment to motivate herself to get back into rehab and back on the field. As a seventh grader and a freshman in high school, Rummell had to learn to be grateful for every opportunity, as you never know when something will be taken away from you. She strove to do everything she could to fulfill her aspiration of playing college softball, and she did it.
“I feel like overcoming those challenges at such a young age really gives me that ‘I can do anything’ mindset,” Rummell said.
This year, Rummell has experienced the best of both worlds in terms of practice time. Coming into this season, she solely had preseason experience, since COVID-19 cut the season short right before Big Ten play started. But that didn’t stop Rummell. She used this to her advantage, starting all 22 games last year at third base and was an Illinois Athletics Freshman of the Year finalist and earned a Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Week award.
She used this extended preseason to keep a consistent mindset and take advantage of every moment. Through it all, Rummell has created a new appreciation for her and everyone’s role on the team. No matter who you are and what you’re doing — practicing on the field, doing charts  or calling pitches — Rummell emphasizes that with every role, it is vital for everyone to pull their weight for the team to be successful.
Success is about being proud and owning your individual role to be able to bring the mental and physical skills, techniques and tactics to the team. Rummell says this is a great way to have fun, dig into her teammates, get out of her head and play for the people next to her.
In the beginning of the year, Rummell struggled offensively. She took this opportunity to find her groove to produce more successful outcomes.
“I feel like in our lineup, there’s no weak spots,” Rummell said. “The bottom is able to switch over to the top, the top is able to keep it going and the power is able to produce. That just makes us go hard to defend for any other team. I’m just glad I’m on our side of the ball when we’re hitting.”
In the first series of the season, Rummell went 2-for-3 with two runs batted in Illinois’ 8-0 series finale win over Penn State March 14. She continued to progress, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored while hitting her first home run of the year during the doubleheader against Nebraska April 10.
Her journey didn’t stop here. Rummell is currently on a hitting streak that started in the series opener against Wisconsinon April 2.
Rummell received the Louisville Slugger/NFCA National Player of the Week and Big Ten Co-Player of the Week for her outstanding performances so far this season. In the four-game series against Purdue April 16-18, Rummell went 9-for-12 (.750) with 10 RBIs and four extra-base hits, one home run, three doubles and two runs scored.
Rummell’s success grew as she continued to find motivation in every opportunity. She couldn’t have done it alone, though, and she emphasizes that her success flows through that of her teammates. Before coming to Illinois, Rummell attended softball games and watched the upperclassmen that she now plays alongside. She looks up to her teammates as motivation to learn from them and finds new ways to improve her game.
“Seeing my teammates succeed is something that really motivates me,” Rummell said. “I love seeing them ball out and do everything they can, whether it’s hitting a bomb or making the other team miss on a pitch. It’s so awesome to see. It motivates me because I want to be just like them.”
Life moves fast; it is crucial to make the most of every moment or opportunities might pass on by. Rummell underlines the phrase, ‘be where your feet are’, meaning live in the moment. Before Illinois, this was the first time she heard this phrase; yet, it’ll be one to stick with her through the rest of her journey.
“(If I could go back in time) I would tell my younger self just to soak in every moment, live in the moment and just be where your feet are,” Rummell said.
Next on Rummell’s to-do list is to continue to trust in her ability to stay mentally consistent and physically motivated. There will be obstacles along the journey; what matters is how you respond to them. Rummell took every challenge and opportunity thrown her way and used it to her advantage as she grew into her role, her groove and her consistent mindset.
“I feel like how you respond (to challenges) is a big character assessment of who you are, not only as a softball player but a person in general,” Rummell said. “That’s just something that I strive to be consistent at and sometimes softball can make that hard.
“My next goal is to keep a consistent mindset through all the highs and lows of the season, (and) to keep trusting myself whether it’s on the field or at the plate.”

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