Growing up I've always been around baseball.

Since before I can remember, baseball has always been present in my life. I guess I can thank my dad for my passion of loving baseball; constantly having it on the TV and spontaneously taking me to games. Even within the more recent years, going to Sunday family day games has become our own little simple father/daughter outing. Even as a little girl I enjoyed baseball to the point where I was the only girl on my t-ball team and continued on to play travel softball; but learned that I'm more of a fan than an athlete. Although I don't have any brothers or siblings for that fact, I grew up watching my cousins and even my uncle play baseball competitively. For my family, baseball isn't just “America’s pastime” ; it's a way of life.

There’s something about baseball that just gets me. I enjoy watching the long nine-inning games; never knowing if one at bat will make or break the game. The tension that sends chills up your backbone as your favorite player is up to bat with a full count. Being at a game and jumping up from your seat as a foul or home run ball comes your way. Out of all the great things that come from watching baseball, it is definitely watching your favorite team win.

One item on my bucket list was to catch a game ball. Lucky enough for me, last season

I caught two; Opening Day and The World Series-- the start and the end of the season. This season I have already caught two as well.

Another item on my bucket list is to visit every Major League Baseball stadium. Obviously, being the avid Mets fan I am, I have been to Citi Field and Shea Stadium, more times than I can count. I can also cross the old and new Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park, and Tropicana Field off my list.

I enjoy the game. I’m an avid lover of baseball and no person can tell me otherwise. I’ve been to key games such as the rare double headers, Mike Piazza’s last game at Shea Stadium and his induction to The Hall of Fame “Piazza Day” game, The Subway Series-- at both Yankee Stadium and Citi Field, Season closers, Opening Day, and even a World Series game.

The stigma that comes attached to being a girl who loves baseball is that we love it for the boys. Yeah, boys are great and we probably wouldn't have the game without them, but I’m not sitting for three hours, rooting for my favorite team just to see a few nice butts in tight pants. I have a love for the game itself. The memories I have looked back on baseball is what defines me.

As the season is starting to wrap up, so is my life. No more trying to get to as many games as possible. No more constant ESPN updates sent to my phone. No more bets being made on who will make it to the World Series. But, as this season ends I am already looking forward to the next.