You have always had my back, whether it be on the diamond, or just life in general. Sure, you are just a game of success and failures, but you have taught me way more than many people ever could. Whether it be coming to the understanding that sometimes the only fair thing in life would be a ball hit between the lines, or knowing that I can fail more than I succeed and still be considered great, softball has always been there to provide wisdom and an explanation for the many complications I may come across in life. Not only has it been a way to reduce stress, but also a way to view life.

This game, a little bit of a twist from America's favorite pastime, has not just been a part of my life, it has been my life. I wouldn't trade it for a second, even if I had to miss so much of my social life, this sport has shaped me into who I am today. Of course, there are many times where I'd want to quit, where I thought I'd never be good enough to achieve my goals, and even though I was close to giving up, I cannot be grateful enough that I didn't.

Sure, I may have missed many Friday night football games, friend's birthday parties and many beach days, yet it all seems worth it. Softball has not been just a game, it is an inner reflection of unfair life can be, and how to always take chances in order to be successful, because when you throw your heart out over the fence, eventually the ball will go with it.

Of course, there have been ups and downs, with tears of frustration and joy shed on its diverse playing fields, yet I still find myself coming back for more. I cannot thank this sport for giving me so many sisters with each passing year, but also giving me a different backdrop with each tournament I played. I traveled up and down the coast with different girls, from Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and all parts of New England. I got to experience parts of America that I probably never would have without softball tournaments. Not only did I feel at home out on a field full of chalked lines and dirt, but I felt that this was a place I belonged and could turn to when reality wasn't working out so great.

There is not enough thanks for being my true love, for being there for me on the good days as well as the bad. Sure, there are times where I didn't want to be there, that I was tired from other activities during the day, or I've been in a mental slump, but the only way I got through it was to continue playing. Through the tough practices where I'm drenched in sweat, with every fiber in my being to quit, I am so happy I didn't. Softball, you have shaped me in more ways than words could explain. You have made me a team player, determined, and down to get dirty when need be. You have taught me to take chances, and if you fail, it isn't the end of the world, as you'll always get another at bat or opportunity in life. Every dive, every cut, every bruise and every happy and sad cry has led me to here, because you are not just a sport. For me, you are life; well at least a large part of it. It was something worth my small time here on this Earth, and forever will be.

Although you have consumed my life, you cannot be here for me forever on the outside, but you can forever resonate in my heart. Like all good things, they eventually come to an end, and my expiration date is within a few years' reach. However, although my time on the field is nearing its end, the memories and life lessons are sure to last forever. A sport is simply not just a sport, for it is the biggest life lesson there is, and even though I've hit some lows in my time on the diamond, I wouldn't trade it for the world. Thank you to the little girl who picked up the glove and started this whole thing, which has become the best years of my life.