Dear Disqualified Atlee Softball Team,

I want to start off by telling you that I am not writing to degrade or embarrass you any further. The whole country has seen your team picture with all of your faces, along with the Snapchat of 6 of you, sometimes with faces blurred and sometimes without. I’m writing to you from one athlete to another, one woman to another, and one small town girl to another. I am writing to you all in an attempt to give you some words of encouragement during a time when you are receiving so much hatred and scrutiny.

Very quickly, I will address the punishment you received, but I refuse to dwell on it. You made the conscious decision to post that Snapchat, and I guarantee you were not the first team to ever post something along those lines. However, you all are young and you got caught; therefore you were made an example of. You received punishment for the unsportsmanlike conduct, and whether I agree or disagree, I will not say. This is not about me, and this is not a letter to start a brawl over correct or incorrect punishment.

You girls are all obviously very talented softball players. I mean, you wouldn’t have been hours from the championship game of the Junior League World Series if you lacked any sort of talent. I recognize a few of your faces. In fact, I know one of you fairly well. To the player I know: I'm proud of you for not having your finger in the air. Back to knowing some of your faces, though. I was among the Hanover High School softball team that put on clinics at Atlee Little League from 2010-2014. I’m sure I crossed paths with several of you along the way, and I hope you continue to play ball and grow as players.

The most important part of this letter begins now:

Do not let this unfortunate event define you. I’m sure you know that nothing can be erased once it goes onto the internet. Unfortunately, this will trail you for the remainder of your careers. The talent you possess at this age will carry you a very long ways. Trust me, I've witnessed it before. Most likely some of you will be looked at for college ball, and you will have to defend your actions when they Google your name and see an event from your past. I let a few coaches from my high school ruin my love for the game for me, and I don’t want you all to let individuals over the internet ruin the game for you. Don’t quit something that you are insanely talented at because you screwed up one time. People across the country will continue to post and comment on the series of events that took place, but they don't know you the they don't get to tear your self-esteem down. Learn from this and grow not only as young ladies, but as athletes as well.

In the world we currently live in, it is quite easy to let the hatred through social media hurt our mentalities. You messed up, but hold your heads high and move forward. Softball is not just a game that you completely live; it’s a way of life. Keep playing, keep chasing the dream of college ball, and don’t ever give up. I leave you with my favorite quote from a college basketball coach that was long before your time. Jimmy V once said, “Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.”

Sincerely,

A Sympathizing Retired Athlete