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At the age of 6, my parents signed me up for my local REC softball team. Little did I know this would be the beginning of an incredible journey. I remember feeling both excited and nervous as I picked up my first bat and glove.

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During this time I was still learning the game but, I began to want to play it every chance I got. I would ask my dad to play catch in the yard or hit off the tee. I wasn't very good, but I enjoyed playing with friends.

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While playing REC ball, I made some really good friends and together we started a travel ball team. This means we would play in tournaments and get to travel around the state. As we continued to practice, we got better and better.

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My travel team and I began to take softball seriously after winning a couple of tournaments. Our practices began to last longer and we played farther away. We were ranked as the best 10u team in North Carolina.

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In my last year playing REC ball, our team made it to the Dixie World Series championship. The journey was intense, filled with nail-biting games and incredible team moments. We won the whole thing, this experience solidified my love for the sport.

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Up to this point, my dad had always been my coach but now we began fighting. Our father-daughter relationship turned toxic as we began to fight off the field. There were many long drives full of screaming and crying, but the choice was made that he would stop coaching me and become a spectator.

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Over the course of these years, I made countless friends. We spend almost every weekend together, running around hotels, eating dippin' dots, and cheering for each other. During this season, I made bonds that would become unbreakable over the years.

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The COVID-19 pandemic brought an abrupt halt to our season. It was disappointing, but it also taught me the importance of resilience and staying in shape even when faced with unexpected obstacles. It was my last year before moving to high school, so I gave everything I had for those few games.

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After years of hard work and dedication, I earned a spot on the varsity team as a freshman. This was a huge milestone for me, and I felt proud to wear our school colors on the field. I learned the importance of teamwork and communication during this season.

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You can see we were losing to our rival school in the background.

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This year was one of my hardest. Trying to balance school ball and travel ball became difficult. I chose to quit travel ball when our team split which was very hard for me. I didn't feel confident and my anxiety increased. Over the summer, I was able to start therapy and focus on myself.

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My dedication and leadership skills were recognized when I was named team captain in my junior year. This role taught me valuable lessons about motivation, strategy, and leading by example on and off the field.

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As I approach my final season, I'm filled with mixed emotions. I'm excited for what's to come but, I know my days as a player are coming to an end. I can't wait to apply the lessons I've learned from the game to my future career. Regardless, softball will always be a part of who I am.