When sophomore infielder Bella Cabral was just three years old, she stepped up to the plate and swung the bat for the first time. Now at the age of 20, she has had thousands of plate appearances, including approximately 250 at Virginia. In these plate appearances, Cabral has shined — showcasing her as a standout Cavalier, earning her accolades throughout the ACC and cementing her reputation as one of the brightest stars in all of college softball. She has stepped up as a leader, and a core part of that is reflection.
Born in Choctaw, Okla., Cabral grew up at the field. She watched both of her older siblings playing baseball or softball. With her brother being drafted by the Houston Astros and her sister currently playing at South Alabama, the stage has long been set for her to step into the collegiate scene. But with that step comes a lot of trials, tribulations and most considerably, pressure.
In softball, struggles are natural. Even the most elite players will only record a hit 30 percent of the time.
“I would tell my younger self that you are going to go through struggles mentally,” Cabral said. “But you’re going to make it out — it’s all going to be worth it at the end of the day because you get to go out there and play the game you love with 23 other girls.”
That love of the game is manifested through “Ubuntu,” which is the Zulu phrase the Cavaliers use to describe their relationship with one another — meaning “I am because you are.” They chose this to emphasize that no one person on the team is greater than the other — they all play a part. This phrase is something Cabral holds near and dear to her heart, helping her go out there and leave it all on the field.
“We all rely on each other to be free,” Cabral said. “I know part of the reason this year I'm so free is because I know that the people behind me are gonna have my back. It takes pressure off of me, allowing me to be free at the plate.”
A positive mindset is essential, especially for such a crucial player. Specifically, Cabral has been a mainstay since day one. In her first season, Cabral started all 54 games and was an ACC All-Freshman selection. She had 11 multi-hit games, a .263 batting average with 20 runs scored and 30 RBI plus six home runs.
Now midway through her sophomore season, Cabral has risen to new heights — leading the team in batting average with .400, hits with 32 and slugging percentage with .738. But the numbers only tell part of the story.
“I did a lot of reflection and growth over the past year,” Cabral said. “I was a little immature last year, letting bad at-at bats affect my next ones. This year, I’ve learned to let things roll off my shoulders and just be free at the plate.”
That mindset is crucial, as the pressure of being a key player and a team leader is undeniable. And although some may crack or even fall short, Cabral does not. Instead, she leans on the support of her teammates and coaching staff.
Cabral said Virginia values its players’ mental and physical well being above all else — which is something that attracted Cabral to the program in the first place. In each of the Cavaliers’ wristbands is an orange card that has four words put by the coaches and four put by the players themselves. Cabral describes this as a way to remind each of them to stay within themselves when at bat and to remember who they are regardless of the outcome.
“I know a couple of them are ‘I’m courageous,’ ‘I'm worthy,’ ‘I'm confident,’ ‘I'm loyal’ — just a bunch of those,” Cabral said. “I kind of just read those throughout and remember that I've worked hard for this. So, if it doesn't go my way, it doesn't change me as a person or a softball player.”
So far, the season seems to be going Cabral’s way, though, as she was recently named Softball America’s No. 10 third baseman in its midseason power rankings. However, Cabral remains humble about the ranking and attributes her success to Virginia’s team culture, built on unity and support.
“It's not about the rankings for me at all,” Cabral said. “Honestly, it’s just about going out there and doing the best I can for my team and helping us win.”
Cabral continuously acknowledges the mental challenges she has overcome to become the kind of player she is today, explaining how other athletics and school has always been a lot to juggle. But even with the stress, she believes that it's all been worth it since she now gets to play the sport she loves at the highest level of competition — she knows her younger self who barely knew how to swing properly would be proud.
Heading into the rest of ACC play and what the team hopes to be an extended season, Cabral will surely continue to play a crucial part. And for her, this journey — fueled by determination, leadership and love for the game — is only the beginning for the young Cavalier.
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