Why Is Softball Important To Me

Softball has taught me many life skills like how to get along with twenty girls and have a friendship with each and every one of them. Also, I think it has really shaped my life a small amount; I don’t think I’m the same person I was two months ago. Even though my team didn't win every game or even most of our games, we still acted like a unit and didn't give up easily and we played our hardest at every game. Honestly from my own opinion, I think losing made us even closer to each other and we weren't a cocky team either we were just really confident.

Have you ever had so much passion for a sport you have been playing for almost your whole life? I love playing all positions of softball and I admire everything that comes with it that includes battle wounds, road trips to games, making memories to practicing out on home field getting ready to bat some love into their lives. Softball is not an easy sport at all but it’s my passion and a privilege to be able to stand on that field. So much love, effort and hard work has been put in over the years. After 12 years of truly knowing the sport these are my favorite things out on the field such as pitching with strength, sliding with passion, and batting to hear all of your support to make a home run!

Softball for many people is the way of life, we eat, sleep, and play softball. Softball is a great sport for a lot of girls that want to be active and even stay out of trouble. Softball can be great for starting conversation because on the field you always have to talk, so your teammates now what is going on and where everyone is on the field. But when you play softball you always have a rush of enjoyment, and nerves.

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.

“The inclusion of the package of new sports will afford young athletes the chance of a lifetime to realize their dreams of competing in the Olympic Games – the world's greatest sporting stage – and inspire them to achieve their best, both in sport and in life (Elliott).” Softball should be back in the Olympics because it makes money and and benefits players by increasing interests.

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

Sticks and stones may break my bone but that is far from the truth.  Personally, I believed I played baseball proficiently, but various people repeatedly told me I could not. I found myself; Therefore, I  realized I was not as good as I thought I was.   At first, it hurt me physically and emotionally, but later I realized the hurt I felt affected me much greater.

My mother has been playing competitive softball since before I was born. Even to this day, at the young age of 66, she still enjoys playing on the circuit. My brother was a talented basketball player in high school and junior college until a car accident thwarted his dreams, I myself, was a 3-sport star in high school and I earned a scholarship to play football at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. I was taught from a very early age that my performance in sports rests with my ability to consistently control my emotions. I have been trained to respond positively inevitable changes and

Starting at such a young age my passion for the game has grown. Playing in the spring for Little League and then continuing to play throughout the summer, strengthened my love for the game. With being apart of Plainville League created a family between me and my teammates. Not only did our team become close, but also our families. Between working in the concession stand, fundraising, and the team get togethers all made us feel a part of the Plainville community. The fundamental skills I learned back then stayed with me today, improving my skills each day. Plainville Little League helped me to find my passion. Without my start playing for Plainville League through seven years I would never have found my passion for softball. Playing on a high level team at such a young age taught me to work hard. I knew I wasn't the best player on the team, but I knew I was the most determined. I would always work hard and perfect my game so I would one day be as good as my older teammates. Whether it would be extra hitting time in the batting cages or practicing at home, I was always trying to improve my

My coach always said that softball was 90% mental and 10% physical. This was what I lived by for the six years that I played for his travel team, and it made me learn a lot of valuable lessons along the way. Pushing yourself to be the best that you can be is just as mentally tough as it is physically and that is where you have to use the motto and become disciplined mentally because it is more important that the physical part of the game. I chose to observe a softball game, but not just one game with two teams playing but a tournament played by many teams from different places. AAU softball is a hobby that requires great dedication that I have been through first hand and I witnesses that this weekend when I attended a tournament, and as

“We grow neither better nor worse as we get old, but more like ourselves.” You all have that someone or that something that has helped us grow up throughout the years. For me softball has been one of the biggest thing that has impacted my life and helped me grow. Soccer, track, basketball, volleyball, and gymnastics have also impacted me but not to any level that softball has. Softball has not only been a fun journey for me but has taught me so much and has been a major part of my life.

Hall of fame baseball player, Babe Ruth, once said, “It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up.” Throughout my involvement and participation in baseball, I have always kept this quote in the back of my head just to remind myself to keep grinding and stay committed when things get hard. Baseball has taught me, and even my family, valuable life lessons over the course of the last several years.

As I stared out into the clouds, flying to Kirkland Washington with my teammates, to play in the Junior league 14U Softball World Series, I had a vision that one day I would play softball at the next level. Thriving at the World Series against Alaska, Puerto Rico, Virginia, and Czech Republic led me realize that the possibilities were high for me to continue to follow my dreams of attending a university and earn my degree while playing softball. The Lord had big plans in store for me. I am a firm believer in anything is possible. As I continued throughout this vigorous journey to play at the next level, I faced many obstacles and challenges in which shaped my development to understand that academics plays an important role of being successful