High School Softball Research Paper

“A group of dedicated girls” is how Junior Danielle Urbon described the softball team. Even though the team struggled all year long and didn’t win as many games as they expected, they loved the game. The team showed improvement from last season but still have much work to do to get to where they want to be. When interview-

When I showed up to softball tryouts at the beginning of my senior year, I was convinced that I was going to be put on the junior varsity team for the fourth consecutive year. I was sure that I would never be moved up to varsity, regardless of how hard I played. My junior year I was embarrassed to be one of only two juniors on J.V. I was so self-conscious, that I had considered quitting so that I wouldn’t be the only senior not on varsity. However, I decided that quitting would be more humiliating than being on J.V. and forced myself to play my final season of softball. I showed up to tryouts the first week of school, and I played with every ounce of effort that I had. When teams were announced, I was legitimately shocked to find out that I

The long series of events started when I was seven years old and my parents signed me up for Bobby Sox softball. I soon grew to love the sport and came back to the organization every year until I turned ten. I stopped playing for the league and tried out for a local travel ball team and made it. I soon had a career out of playing travel ball, it was my whole life. I had been on many teams and created many memories. As I got older, I didn’t enjoy playing softball as much as I did before. I was scared to tell this my dad this because he had high hopes that I would play in college. When I told my dad that I wanted to quit softball, I learned that I need to do what makes me happy even if it disappoints people.

I started on the high school football team and didn’t do too bad. I ended up getting all district defensive back which was good to have. I also started on the high school basketball team. This was a pretty good year we didn’t do to bad but got beat out in regionals. It was one of the most painful times of my life because it meant a lot to me and the team. I couldn’t believe it happened. We worked so hard. A good thing about it is that I improved and did better that year. I also tried a crazy thing which was to play baseball. I have never played baseball in my life nor did I like it. I went ahead and tried it out anyways. I enjoyed it but I was not good at it. I couldn’t seem to find the ball in the outfield. I was a decent pitcher and batter though. The best part about baseball was the bus ride I enjoyed them a

As I was still getting the hang of this new sport I had realized that I have an advantage that the other girls didn’t have, it was my personal coach. My mom. Not only is she my softball coach, but she’s also my life coach. Over the years I have grown such an attachment to this game, that I can’t imagine my life without it. So that is why I don’t take softball for granted, because when I broke my left ankle I couldn’t even practice, or when I tore a ligament in my right ankle, I was definitely sad and I didn't know what to do, I felt empty, plus seeing people playing your favorite game in front of you and knowing you can't play really takes a toll on you emotionally. I still remember when I had to sit out of several softball games, and a championship. I felt like I was letting my teams down, I just felt so useless. That’s where I can mostly identify myself with my mother, through softball and the injuries that she has had during playing the

“Not everyone is going to see or accept you for who you are, and you have to accept that.” I was told this quote everyday by my mother. Today was no different, walking up to the raked field, quote on my mind , eyes on the fresh red clay, and the sound of my metal cleats against the concrete. I was ready for this day. After months of hard work from November to February , the tryouts for Central softball team were over. Over the span of four months, I pushed myself harder than I ever thought I could, but what I did never seemed to be enough for the team.

I come from a small town and finding the same talented athletic team for a consecutive four years doesn’t come around all to often. My softball team has been in the state championship game for the past 4 years, placing 1st twice, and 2nd twice. Playing in such an important game requires a lot of teamwork, dedication, and talent. My last state championship game was a lot harder than the other years because the competition had improved dramatically, but somehow we managed to pull it off one last time. The explanations as to why we were successful go much deeper than the obvious reasons everyone can see. The surrounding environment, genetic differences, and personality traits all play a big role in the outcome of an

Our school was never very good at sports and only about five girls would be cut. I was jittery the day that the varsity roster was to be posted; I wanted nothing more than to be part of the team. After classes ended, I walked to the athletic board, where the varsity roster would be posted. I anxiously scanned the list for my name. I scanned it again. As my eyes ran over the page a third time, my heart began to sink. I hadn’t made the team. I was one of five girls who were cut from the varsity team. In a daze, I went to practice. Instead of focusing like I usually did, I went through the motions. The five of us who made up the junior varsity team had a separate practice with the assistant coach. After the sting of failure finally faded, I began to work harder than before. I showed up early to practice and stayed late every day. Every weekend I spent at least two hours on the field practicing. I was determined to make the coaches regret putting me on the “JV” team. As the season ended, I didn’t stop working to become better. Any day that was not too cold, I could be found on the field. When spring came, I joined the soccer team, hoping to improve on my endurance and speed. Over the summer, I spent at least two hours every day running and practicing. When the field hockey season rolled back around, I was ready to show off my skills and make the varsity

(Sub-Point # 2) In addition, the sport taught me more about myself and life than I would have ever dreamt imaginable. I learned that I am a leader and a great teamplayer, I also leared an abundance of life lessons for example; practice makes perfect, criticism isn’t always failure, following the rules is the only way to succeed and how to be a good sport. TRANSITION STATEMENT In the past softball played an enormous role in my life and the life lessons the sport has taught me I hope to carry with me for the rest of my life.

It was the spring of 2001, the season that would mark the first game of my softball career. All twelve players showed up to the field, but the real question was, how many came to play ball? It was only best to expect the unexpected from this group of six year olds. The game started, and one player hit a roller towards the outfield. At this very moment the team of twelve became divided. This division separated the team players from the self-servers. My natural instinct to play as a teammate forecasted the kind of person I would soon become.

But what they said didn’t have an affect on me because I knew that I could be the best player on that field. So throughout the winter I put in the work I was hitting three times a week, catching bullpens for nothing just because I wanted to prove everyone wrong. But by the time the season came around I still wasn’t getting in the game. But by my sophomore year in high school I came back not the same ball player i was freshmen year. All summer I put in the work and I told myself I’m not letting anyone tell me I’m not tall enough or good enough to play the game I love. Fall of sophomore year is baseball tryouts. But I got a call from the varsity baseball coach telling me to come down to varsity baseball tryouts. At the moment I realized all the courage I had and the drive to not let anyone tell me I’m good enough even though as a sophomore I didn’t make the varsity team I was still on JV and had a great year. Starting Cather with a 320 batting average. But my sophomore year my coach always told me to be a leader. And now as a junior on the varsity team as the starting catcher I can call myself a captain of a varsity baseball

Softball is a sport that I have played for nine years. I started playing when I was nine years old. Over the course of those past ten years, I played at three different leagues. I started off playing at a city league called Montgomery American where I played for four years. Afterwards I started playing school ball at the school I was attending which was Montgomery Catholic Preparatory High School. I played school ball from seventh grade until I graduated. During the summer leading up to college, I played summer ball for this other city league called Montgomery Gray where I played for only two years. Playing on the teams with these three different leagues were completely different from each other. What was mainly different was the coaching.

Whether I am on the softball field or in the community, I strive to put my best foot forward, no matter the circumstance. Playing sports all of my life taught me an extremely valuable lesson: nothing good comes easy. As a freshman starting on the varsity girls softball team, I had to gain the experience of a varsity level player during pre-season, about three weeks, at a position I had never played before. There were no alternatives other than to push myself to the limit and conquer this challenge. Practices had never been so challenging. Games had never been so rewarding. Every drop of sweat, every minute spent overcoming my fear of making mistakes contributed to a winning season and a trip to the district tournament. That year, the

“The ones who say “you can’t” and “you won’t” are probably the ones who are afraid that you will.” (MGQ) During my entire life, there was always someone who did not want to see me excel in life. They were always hoping for the negative outcomes instead of pushing me to keep going. They always tell me that “you can’t” or “you won’t”, but they never motivated me to go for something worth trying! When I was little I always dreamed of being a softball player. I thought the red clay, the helmet hair, the scars, the bruises, and the sisterly love bond was what I wanted to be a part of. I would walk around throwing everything, running and sliding as if I was on a field. Motivation and inspiration comes from the positive ones around you. Throughout my younger days and to this day, Natasha Watley has inspired me to be who I am today. She has experienced a life comparable to my own, therefore she could pass her positive inspiration down to those like me. This is why I continuously try my best. Giving up is never an option.

I was born and raised in the Indianapolis area up until age thirteen. We lived in one house for thirteen years, seems like a lifetime. The walls full of secrets, the carpet full of mistakes. When I was about five years old my parents signed me up for tee ball. At the time, I wasn’t very skilled nor knew nothing about anything. As a toddler you learn to cry and get your way, but I was easy to grow out of that. By age ten, I was rolling around in the dirt at the softball diamonds, or as my father likes to call it “picking daisies.” In 2011, I became more serious than ever in the sport I loved. I played for the Ben Davis Recreation League, and felt like I was a professional. Our season had just started a few weeks before and this was probably our third game. I remember this game just as it was yesterday.