I have been through a lot with this game of softball. It has caused a lot of frustration and anger and stress growing up. I became the girl in school that no one ever knew because on the nights and weekends I would be living another life at practice or games. I never got to "sleep in" on weekends or go out partying. I wasn't a typical kid growing up and this sport is why. But softball isn't negative, sure I had moments of wanting to quit but in the end it all was positive. I wish I could back and truly enjoy the moments that I dreaded. This sport has done nothing but help me throughout my life and even surviving my life, the least I can say is "Thank you":

Thank you softball for all that you have done.

Thank you for the constant reminders that I am here for a reason and that reason was to be part of a team.

Thank you for constantly being there through the defeats and the victories

Thank you for introducing me to people I would not have regularly met. I found new friends and even new job opportunities.

Thank you for always being the back up plan when it came to school projects or research papers.

Thank you for taking me in at age 5, and being so consistent and so amazing that I would get to play til I was 21.

Thank you for the uniforms I got to put on and equipment I got to use every time I stepped on that field

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to lace up my cleats and get covered in dirt for fun

Thank you for keeping me busy throughout weekends especially in high school when everyone would get in trouble.

Thank you for all the tournaments in wild destinations so that I could travel and see not only the country but the world.

Thank you for all those early mornings and late nights full of memories with my parents, family and teammates that I will never forget

Thank you for proving to me that hard work really does beat talent if talent doesn't work hard.

Thank you for giving me numbers that might mean nothing to other people but a whole different phase of life to me

Thank you for the hardships and injuries because in the end it only made me stronger

Thank you for all the cuts, scars and bruises, the pain was temporary but the stories might be cool

Thank you for the workouts where I either almost passed out or threw up, it proved that there would be eventually be an end to pain and on the other side I would feel better.

Thank you for making me realize that a few seconds really does matter (especially running the mile)

Thank you for letting me accomplish my dreams I had when I was a little girl and finally become one of the girls I looked up to

Thank you for game day hair and bows, the fashion accessories that would show who I really am

Thank you for the locker room conversation, sing alongs and dance offs that I'll miss so much (you already know I'll only go back to listening to country music now)

Thank you for giving me self confidence for when my name was called, it was a feeling like no other

Thank you for walk up songs, obviously everyone that wasn't on my team needed to know your musical obsession.

Thank you for the teammates who are just another 20 sisters.

Thank you for keeping humble because one at bat can be a homerun, the next a strike out.

Thank you for teaching me to never give up, because a huge slump will always come to an end.

Thank you for always having something to talk about when I'm in an awkward situation

Thank you for all the team sweat pants and sweatshirts that I live in everyday.

Thank you for being able to have my family support by hobby because it was only sorta dangerous.

Thank you for the pants that I hated oh so very much, I wish I could put them on again

Thank you for letting me live my dream

Thank you softball for being more than just a sport but a passion and cherished memories

Thank you for making me who I am today.

Thank you softball.

Sincerely,

Officially a N.A.R.P.

#73, #33, #19