“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself” is a phrase that stays true to everyone especially during your freshman year of highschool. When I was fourteen, my baseball team went to a spring showdown baseball tournament. Spring showdowns have always been my favorite type of tournament since I played 10u travel ball. Although now I have a different perspective on these tournaments. On the way home from this particular tournament my face look like a baboons buttocks, with a big red swollen eye that was surrounded by brown and purple bruise. This was from a fouled off baseball, and I will never forget the event or the decisions I had to make. As a freshman I had to learn how to make educated, courageous, and tough life decisions.…
Softball isn’t just a sport, it’s a passion. Last year, in a softball game, I tripped and cause us to get all three outs. My team, as well as my coach, was very upset. As a consequence, I sat the next two innings out. Sitting alone and thinking about how my mistake could cost us the game, I felt as though I needed to prove to my team that I didn’t mean to and that I could help get the game back. I finally convinced my coach to let me back in the game. An inning had gone by I still hadn’t proven myself. I was getting nervous. Bottom of the ninth, my chance came. Playing shortstop, a ground ball was headed straight for me. I caught it, and threw it to first. First then through it to third, and I tagged the runner coming from second base. A triple play! We were three points ahead and had won the game. I had such a feeling of self-accomplishment and pride. I had proven to the team that I was a…
Adversity comes in all shapes and sizes, varying from person to person. We are all faced with different challenges to overcome and different obstacles to face. In the spring of 2016, the UNA Softball team faced many challenges before becoming National Champions. From beginning to end, the Lady Lions did not have it so easy, as many thought it seemed. With a 60-7 record we faced losses, not only on the field but off the field as well.…
Sitting in the locker room today, packing up my bags for the last time, it made me realize that my softball career is actually over. I just wanted to thank everyone who has had an impact on my softball career first starting with my parents, brothers, and other family members. Second my coaches throughout this whole journey. And third to all my teammates that I have had over the years. Those friendships are what got me through the tough times and great times. I am honored to be able to say I was a softball player at West Stanly for 4 years. For the ones who are still playing, give it your all, turn teammates into your friends, and always cherish each and every chance you get to play on that field. It's crazy how much time flies so just make…
It is the bottom of the ninth and I was last at bat. The ball came zooming towards me at a high rate of speed. The vibration of metal meeting leather rang out in my hands. No hesitation was made. I dropped the bat and ran as fast as I could to first base. My coach was telling me to keep going because the ball was fumbled. I rounded third base and my coach motioned for me to take it home with a slide. Down I went. Dust was flying. The crowd was standing and cheering loudly as the referee motions and yells, “Safe!” All I heard was screaming as dust still loomed the air around me. I could manage to see my team going wild, jumping, and screaming. Everyone seemed to be celebrating except me.…
My entire life has revolved around sports. Growing up, I spent most of my childhood weekends at hockey rinks all across New England watching my two older brothers play. It was only a matter of time before I laced up my very own pair of skates. I immediately fell in love with every aspect of hockey. My teammates and coaches were like my family and my hometown rink was my second home. This is where my passion for sports began.…
Sports has always been a passion of mine. It has developed friendships and has kept me in great shape. However, I have had unexpected events in my life that have restricted athletics for me. In this essay, I will describe these obstacles and the roadblocks they have created in my road to success. I started having trouble with my knee dislocating during my 5th grade year and it escalated very quickly. I knew every time I went on the basketball court, I was going to dislocate my knee.…
he bell rang and we race to our cars. My team and I very happy knowing we had a chance of being champions. The whole school behind us cheering us on. From City University To Hamilton Middle School Chris, Aaron, Terrell, and myself smiling from cheek to cheek. We got to Hamilton and we gear up. I threw my catcher bag over my shoulder and called for the team to line up. Coach Avent ad Coach Blake started prayer. After they looked up and said “ We been preparing for this day all year.” Knowing everything the team had been through the last season before, no one would have ever thought the Hamilton Wildcats would be in the City Champion Game. No one would've ever through the Hamilton Wildcats would’ve had the season we had. Only losing one game…
I entered high school with a chip on my shoulder, bitter from being the smallest and being disregarded by my classmates. This perceived injustice drove me to work extremely hard. Night after night, I would be in the basement working on my swing, wanting to prove my worth to everyone. After months of practicing, my softball skills were starting to progress, and I was finally starting to grow. I then began to experience success on the softball field as well.…
Five year old girl, softball, confusion, bases, and a screaming coach. My softball coach’s name was Madison, and she was very good at softball. My parents wanted me to play sports, so I said to my mom, “Mommy, I already play soccer. Do I really have to play softball?” My mom said yes, and the conversation ended there.…
From the chalked-up dirt to the fresh cut grass, a softball field is always a place I love to be. This is my 10th grade year and I still enjoy it just as much as the first day I started. Even though I play other sports, softball has still remained my favorite. My uniform colors are gold and black representing the Rams. I love the moment from when I put my uniform on and get on the field to give all my force to win my game.…
I woke up this morning in the Holiday Inn hotel bed more sore than I have ever been in my entire life. The past three days at the AAU National Tournament has completely drained me mentally and especially physically. I don’t know how I can handle day number four. The AAU National Volleyball Tournament has teams from all over the world and lasts four days and is held in downtown Orlando, FL. Last year my team, VolleyOne, came in third place. This year we were yearning to win the whole tournament. During the first and second day we played in the Orange County Convention Center and ended up having three matches, but yesterday, on day number three, we played four grueling games that seemed to last an eternity.…
I swung the bat vainly as the softball flew towards me. It was May, and I was struggling through the softball unit in gym class. As expected, the bat missed by more than a foot. “Try aiming a little lower,” my teacher instructed. I began to go red as I missed yet again, even though I was trying his advice.…
If I don’t set my focus towards a goal, I don’t have a game. Ever since I can remember, I have always been setting goals. Whether I am dancing, performing, or playing tennis, I am always working towards something. Through high school tennis, I have learned that if I don’t set my mind or my eyes on a prize, it’s easy to lose focus. Most would assume during tennis season that my goal is simply to win, but that is not the case. That would be too easy; every athlete wants to win. Before every match I evaluate how practice or my match went the night before and I pick something to work on. My goal every match is to be better than I was the day before; it’s so much more than winning. Success isn’t always about the prize, it is about what…
Each year I periodically got better and better. My 8th grade year was one of my toughest years of playing football. I didn’t really get to start that much during the season. By mid-season I broke my wrist. During a play I was pushed in the back, and I stuck my hand out to help myself stay up, and my wrist snapped in two places. At first I didn’t feel it, and I thought it was just swollen. I believed I could just shake it off till I went to the sideline to have the coach check it out. He told me that it was broken, and that was when all the pain started. But through it all I managed to stay calm and keep a straight face. That ended my 8th grade year, which was terrible. After recovering I was scared to actually hit someone, so my first two years of high school I didn’t play the way I used to play. My junior and senior year were the best I have played football. Those were the years I started hitting the weights hard, thanks to my dad.…