High school softball gave me the opportunity to grow and become the leader of my team by my senior softball season. I began as a young 8th grader just hoping for that varsity. Little did I know, I didn’t need to play varsity softball then. I watch the team break the current 0-69 losing streak. Emphasis on the losing record. It was seriously awful until I watched the winning run score from the press box that late June night. From that point forward, I was determined for greatness.
From freshman to senior year I went from starting third baseman to catcher for three years. This put me in one of the biggest leadership roles on the team and in my life. I could see the entire field from my position, I had control of each pitch to each play and my teammates relied on me. Of course there were times when my confidence was shaken, like when I didn’t feel I performed my best or Coach was correcting me, but I always kept pushing forward. Over my career, I grew as an individual, athlete, and leader.
By the time I was a senior, I was a key player on the field. Looking at the stat sheets, it was the worst season since I had been playing varsity, but for us as a team, we grew. I lead the team as the only senior, but they also carried me through the tough times both on and off the field. Yes, I received all-conference accolades and played in the Senior All-Star game and all of that, but those things didn’t make my season. I wasn’t just a key player performing as an athlete, but as a teammate and friend, I know I made an impact on my teammate’s lives. From them, I learned greatness doesn’t come in wins.
I decided to continue my softball career in college where I wasn’t the all-star anymore. I didn’t expect to be as a freshman, but after that, I had the desire to do whatever it takes to play which never seemed to be enough. One of the worst feelings as an athlete is sitting on the bench when you would give up everything for just one chance to prove yourself. Just one chance, that’s all I wanted. The second worst feeling as an athlete is not feeling appreciated by your teammates and being called “bench people.”
Remind you that I learned a lot about how much caring for your teammates is much greater than what the record shows. Your teammates should be your best friends because they are the people you share a lifestyle with, but I wasn’t feeling that way.
I sat on the bench game after game watching my teammate continue to play in what I thought should have been my position, and there was absolutely nothing I could do about it. Understand that, I watched my teammate make mistakes. Yes, everyone makes mistakes, but these mistakes were tedious mistakes that shouldn’t happen at the college level; these were mistakes that continuously happened and I felt as if I never got a chance.
That taught me that no matter what role you play on a team, you can be great! Of course there were times I wanted to quit. There were times I wanted to just through the towel in and not say another word to some of my teammates because of things that were said or done, but I didn’t. Now, I won’t lie and say those thoughts never crossed my mind or words like that came out of my mouth, because they did at times. But, when I finally got the chance to start a game, I put everything I had out there. That day, I hoped I proved myself enough that I would have the opportunity to return to the field more regularly. When I didn’t, I learned that my key role was no longer on the field.
