Reflective Essay: I Am On The Softball Field

Softball has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. As a little kid my dad would teach me how to hit in the backyard with a Wiffleball bat that was taller than me. As the years passed, I started to fall in love with the sport more than I imagined possible. From little league to travel ball and all the way through varsity high school ball, it has always been a huge part of my life. Most people don’t understand the sport or how someone can be so engulfed in every aspect of it. However, they don’t get to experience the life lessons that this sport of extreme highs and lows teaches the player. It teaches you patience. It teaches you that imperfection is normal. It teaches you that things can turn around in the blink of an eye and most importantly, it teaches you that all good things must come to an end.

Baseball is a game of skill that is played with a hard ball and a bat between two teams of nine players each at a time on the playing field at once. Although many different people play Baseball all over the world it is most popular in the United States. It is so popular in fact, it is referred to as the national pastime of the United States because of the tradition and popularity associated with the game. Baseball consists of many complicated rules. It also has a very elaborate history. One can not fully understand the game America has grown to love until learning about not only the rules but also the history.

Blood, sweat and tears. All for one sport you love. Going to the fields, putting my cleats on and batting.(Cumulative) From the time I stepped on the diamond, I knew softball was going to be something I was good at. Usually most people start off playing t-ball and work their way up to the big leagues. Not me. I started my third grade year. Of course I was hesitant (nervous), but I got over that fast enough. I played every position possible. I was a strong hitter (usually making it on base every time). But that’s 10 u. Over the years, I became exceptionally good at softball. I had many compliments on how good I was. Parents were telling my parents how good I was. But that was only the beginning.

I enjoy helping others pursue their passions and achieve their goals. Softball is a sport that has taught me many important life lessons including teamwork, leadership, and dedication. As softball is a sport that has taught me so much, I spent several weeks of my high school summers volunteering at softball camps. It was always rewarding to see the young girls discover their passion for the game just as I did when I was their age.

First, I have learned about hard work and determination. Through playing the game, I have realized that obstacles and doubters will always be there. However, with hard work, all the limits are overcome, and results are eventually achived. Secondly, softball has contributed to my leadeership skills. Here, since the game involves

Being on the varsity basketball, soccer, and softball team all three years has been quite a journey. Learning how to manage the little free time I have being a student-athlete is a thing that ties directly into responsibility. I believe I am an exceptionally responsible adolescent for the reason that I always am able to create time for my academics. Although it may be at 11 P.M on the bus ride home, I know that my education is my first priority. My softball coach, Shane Jordan, always re enforces the saying, “You are a student before you are an athlete.” This will stick with me throughout the rest of my high school career. Being a part of many unique teams has taught me great amounts about unity as well. Caring about and being there for my teammates on and off the court/field is something I do

Since I was five years old softball and sports have been a huge part of my life. In softball, specifically, there are many times of failure and success. High school sports, for me, has taken a lot of my time, effort, and commitment. From the first day I stepped onto the court and field to the last, I want to be able to say I did my best. It has been tough and frustrating at times. I experienced failure many times, even when I did not want to admit it. My moments of failure within high school sports have turned me into the character and person I am today. It has taught me how to take failure and turn it into success. Failure has made me realize that the only way for you to succeed is for you to fail first.

For this project I chose to interview Coach Perry that helps coach the softball team here at William Carey. I chose to interview her because since she has been my coach she has made an impact on my life and I truly look up to her in many ways because of the way she coaches. For this interview I came up with ten questions to ask her and to talk with her about and nevertheless I was not let down by her answers.

After walking onto the field at seven years old, I found my passion, my strength, and my world. Softball has been in my life for the past ten years, and I intend to play in college if I’m given the opportunity, nevertheless, I am going to fight to play. Playing softball has changed my life; I do not know where I would be without it. It has given me the best experiences in life, and I have made long term friends while playing. I hit my first homerun at 12 years old, and have been a power hitter ever since.

Softball ruled over my life from the time I was five years of age until I was fourteen. According to the people who had watched one of my games, I played first base phenomenally and had some wonderful at bats when I focused on centering my power to hit the ball with all the force I could muster. Unfortunately and fortunately, my father coached every team I played on from T-ball to fast-pitch. At every game, he observed my mechanics and hand-eye coordination, and this pulled memories of watching my brother hit numerous home runs and make game-winning outs from his mind. On nearly all of the car rides home, he would tell me “You remind me so much of Dusty. I see him the way you throw, in the way you hit the ball, and the way you present

To accept the opportunity to step on the field with the varsity softball team started as a child working hard in everything I do, striving for success, and never expecting anything less than what I know I am capable of. I always took running two miles every morning during the summer to running the bases at practice after school very seriously. By this, I became a courtesy runner

“Decide what makes you happy and fight for it”-Anonymous, and that’s exactly what I did. As a kid my parents put me in every sport possible to see which ones I liked best. It wasn’t long before I decided I had a love for softball, and I was good at it too. Ten years have passed since I made that decision, and I still love the sport. Although, this love didn’t come easy; I had to fight my way through the last ten years to get to where I am now.

“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.

Softball: Fondest Memories and Most Valuable Lessons Nothing in the world can compare to the thrill of placing your feet into the batter’s box, with bases loaded, the whole crowd chanting your name, and the pressure being all on you to execute the winning hit of the game. Slowly, you begin to forget about the 100-degree weather, you block out the noise, and focus solely on the one goal in mind; achieving this win not only for yourself, but your whole team as well. Your batting gloves clench around your bat, anticipating the pitch coming your way. As the ball comes closer and closer, it meets your bat as you scorch the ball directly down the left field line.

By working with girls with varying levels of athleticism and knowledge, I was taught how to be a team player who builds off everyone’s skills. I also learned how to continue fighting even when you are losing the battle. I learned many lessons from games. I think the most important lesson I learned is you should never give up. Never giving up is important in sports as you can always come back and win. In light of all my reasons I chose to play a full-time summer sport, travel softball, instead of going on family vacations.