Softball… One of the few things that has caused me so many highs and lows but at the end of the day always brought a smile to my face. The sport is more than balls to the shins and diving catches. It’s more than composite bats on a cold day or your team cheering you on like crazy from the dugout. When we go beyond the diamond, I find some of the happiest moments in my life. Yes, those moments will always be apart of me but when I started playing softball, it came with something much greater that you won’t see on the field.

You’ll never see me and my greatest stress reliever. After a bad week, the feeling of simply hitting a ball off a tee is the best feeling in the world. That bat is 24 oz. of pure joy to me. All the memories it has brought me after I realized that I am a power hitter. On the field you’ll only see me in the box. You will see me slug the ball and you’ll see me strike out, but just know you haven’t seen the last of me. Beyond the diamond you have the time I hit a tennis ball right at my coach, unintentionally but it was still funny. Beyond the diamond you get soft toss with your teammate who always screams that thing that makes you laugh mid-swing. Beyond the diamond I still have the same bat but that bat brought me more joy than a good hit ever will.

Beyond the diamond you get endless laughing. Softball gives you a second family, a group of girls who truly adore you. When you take your last swing of the game, no matter what happened, you'll always have your girls who will be there for you in a heartbeat. Beyond the diamond, you have the girls who have seen you at your best and at your worse but together you have pushed through.

Softball teaches you many life lessons that we take beyond the diamond. Please excuse me for being cheesy, but softball taught me that a team is not solely defined by skill but the love your teammates have for each other and the game.

Softball gave me a story. My number, my team, that random bruise; it all hold meaning in my heart. Most importantly, softball gave me a new start. From taking little league way too seriously all the way up getting your first hit at the varsity level. It's all a process and it's not an easy one. Looking back, I am so grateful that picked up that ball for the first time ever.