Here's to the girls who have dedicated their lives to the sport of softball:

It all started when you began playing a little bit of rec ball at your local softball organization. As a kid, you tried a bunch of sports trying to figure out which one is your niche. From soccer to swimming, your parents encouraged you to try it all. But, everything changed when you tied your cleats and stepped on that dirt diamond. Softball became not just a sport, but a lifestyle.

As you grew up in softball, the only things in your closet was softball pants and jerseys that gave you horrible tan lines during the weekends. The bow collection was endless and the dirt lines were always dramatic after a long day at practice. But in the end, the weekends full of softball, with those twelve girls, is what you looked forward to.

I know those early mornings were difficult and you missed out on so many things your friends did. But, I am here to tell you it is all worth it. The girls you play travel ball with become your family and soon you will realize that you don't mind that you missed your friend's beach trip as much. From traveling to places like Alabama to even places like Canada, they were all adventures and memories you wont want to trade for the world.

So what it may be a little frustrating and it may be a little hard to do everything you want to do while playing the sport you love. But softball is a sport full of sacrifices. If I have learned anything from playing travel softball is to always cherish the moments you have with your family and your team because before you know it, it will be your senior year and you all will go your separate ways.

Before you know it, it will be time to hang up those cleats and give your glove to another little girl so she can enjoy the sport like you did. So thank you to all the girls who stuck with the sport, despite the early morning practices, the long games, and the never ending car rides and plane trips. Stick with it not because you got this far, but because everything you gave up, everything you missed, will all be worth it when you find yourself at a university beginning your life with your childhood best friend: softball.