Personal Narrative: Softball Saved My Life

Becoming an athlete was the smartest and most influential activity I have partaken in which has left such an enormous impact on my life. Developing into adolescence, I learned that I treasured to get dirty and often distributed physical and mental stability. Softball was the perfect sport to grasp onto and acquire skills for livelihood. It teaches detachment, dedication, teamwork, and many other traits. I have played six years of softball all together on three different types of teams, and I cannot remember a time I was on the diamond that I did not achieve a type of educational increase.

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.

Ever since I learned the ropes, I wanted to play because it has always been my dream to play softball. My mom told me I could try out for Lakeshore Playground that got anyone involved in any sport. There was no such thing as tryouts for this playground. During some of the games, I had my good days and my bad days at either hitting or catching. I loved being on that field. I felt that it was just only my teammates and me on the field waiting for our rivals to hit the ball. That season was a good one, and I will never forget it. This is what started my dreams from just playing on a playground field to being on an actual team. To everyone else it may be just a field with red dirt, but to me it is more than that. It is everything I could dream of because the game is about my teammates and me. I loved my passion, and will continue it later on in my

When I was playing travel softball for Angels Fastpitch in my second year of ten and under softball, this memoir began. My coach would not play me much because he said I was not good enough, he said I could not catch. He said many other things all were horrible. The emotions that came

I began when I was 4, but did not start playing competitively until I was 10. As the years went on, I became a distinguished athlete. I started to travel across the United States for softball, and even had the opportunity to play on the number one team in northern California.

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

At 10 years old I was told I wasn’t good enough to be a softball infielder, and that the outfield is where I was meant to be. I refused to accept this, although I was smallest on the team, the weakest, and probably the least likely to have any chance playing the infield, I would not be told what I could or could not be. So I worked hard.

From the young age of five, through the eleven years full of learning curves and numerous injuries, I was shaped by my self motivation and peers. Softball was a profound component in my daily life. When I was younger I would have never thought softball would have such an incredible impact on my character. Today, my past experiences shape me into an individual who can be seen as not only a leader, but as someone who can work as a team to achieve goals and standards. I remember learning to pitch for the first time.

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.

This season of softball is my second season of school softball. Last year was my very first season of softball ever in my life. Over the summer, I played summer softball in Morton,IL. There was only 2 teams total, us and one other team. That was the only team we played against over that amount of time in the summer. We ended up winning all but two games. Then there was the All-Star game were the 8 best people from both of the teams and formed one team and the people who didn't get picked, formed another team. I wasn't there for that game but my team won, and we were the ones with the better people. It was played at the Eastside Center in Peoria. It was really fun. Fun to play, fun to watch, fun to hit, fun to catch, fun to play! Unless you get hit, then you have the pain from where the ball hit. You know what they say, no pain no gain. The best part is hitting the ball, running to 1st, staying safe. When you hit the ball you get this oh-my-gosh-i-just-hit-the-ball feeling.

Ever since I was young, I knew I wanted to play college softball. I love the game and have played it ever since the age of five. Softball however, is not the only sport I played and loved growing up. I played basketball ever since I was able. “tough, can take anyone on.”

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.

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

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.

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.