My barrier was breaking my finger. I played softball for Troy Patterson. I had been practicing with them for about 1 week. We had a tournament that weekend and i was playing first base.
The tan sand around the bases with the growing green grass and old worn out cracked dugouts is where I would have been. The Albany baseball diamond was where me and my friends hung out. We would hit old worn out baseballs with the leather coming off of them and run around the aged bases and sleep on the old rickety metal things they called bleachers. The school right beside it also had a playground which we may or may not have supposed to be on. Dairy Dream was just across the street with the delicious smell of hot chocolate fudge and the nose tingling scent of vanilla ice cream that filled the air.
The time has come, baseball season is in full swing! Now that basketball has long since ended, it’s time for America’s greatest pastime to begin. Not to knock other sports, but come on. What’s more American than baseball, hot dogs, peanuts, and Crackerjacks? Captained by the Clark brothers Matt and Cam, the Panthers look to improve on their weak record of last Spring (two, maybe three wins?) and compete in a high powered Mayflower League.
A few weeks ago, I was finally able to make my first Georgia Southern baseball game. I am not proud that it took over a year for me to ultimately make a game. I have never been the biggest baseball fan, but I couldn’t pass up on the opportunity to see Georgia Southern play the University of Georgia. I was very curious to see how the stadium and field looked, because I heard about the new renovations that the school added in the offseason. I also was interested to analyze how they promote their sponsors, because I will be doing the same thing when I start my internship this fall, at East Coweta High School.
This past weekend my softball career came to a complete end. I have spent the last 15 years of my life putting in the hard work, dedication, and endless effort that has brought me to where I am today and I couldn't be more thankful. I have made many friendships along the way that will last a lifetime, and memories that I will cherish forever. Although I'm sad that it has come to an end, I am ready for a new chapter in my life to begin. I want to thank all my coaches and teammates for the continuous support on and off the field, and pushing me to the limits I never thought I could reach.
The cheers from the crowd and teams, and the adrenaline pumping through our veins. The chalk lines are drawn, the field has been dragged, its time to play now. Nobody knew about the pressure we felt for that game. Not because we weren 't confident, because we were. It was because we knew that the people around us, including the coaches, didn’t believe we could do it.
“Unfortunately, Jack, there will not be many opportunities for you this year.” Seconds after being told I had made the varsity baseball team, I did not expect my coach to so bluntly tell me I would be spending more time watching the game than playing it. Our state ranked team had a pitching staff full of Division 1 commitments and future MLB draft picks, and I was being told I did not measure up. The bench became my best friend.
“Darn” I said to myself as I slowly jogged out to my spot in left field, swatting gnats and mosquitoes as I went. “If only he’d give me a chance!” I thought, “I know I can play catcher at the same level as anyone out here!” But there I was, warming up in the outfield with the center-fielder and hoping, just hoping, I’d get some action. “At least it’s a really nice evening for a game!”
First home run Crack! The ball flew off the bat and went as high as a bird in the sky. Aaron is a young 11 year old boy who loves playing baseball whenever he can. Every Time that he would step up to the plate he was always swing for the fence and dreamed about hitting the ball over and seeing all the fans cheer as he rounded the bases. All of times Aaron had played he never had home run but was always close sometimes hitting the wall just short of the ball going over it: but today that was about to change.
I turned on my TV to find a classic Angels baseball game on. The first event that was shown was Pete Rose up to bat. I closed my eyes and then opened them to the ball gliding out of the pitcher's hand like a stealth bomber. Pete crushed the ball and the crowd screamed. I whispered to myself, "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, and nine."
Being involved in sports teaches vital life lessons that will promote you to overcome challenges you endure in everyday life. The passion and leadership required in the sport of softball reflect the qualities to be successful in my education. My life-long experiences in softball have helped me develop into the person I am today in pursuing my academic career. Through my background of being highly committed to the game, taking on leadership roles and balancing academics with athletics it has prepared me for college. Softball is very meaningful to me and is one of my main commitments.
I am a creature of habit; big changes scare me. This is something that has really dominated my personality for the past couple of years. When I was going into the eighth grade, I moved from Richmond, Virginia to Phoenix, Arizona, a place where no one knew who I was and very few were willing to try and figure me out. I had lived my entire life in Richmond and was very unwilling to move. I think this is where my personality really began to evolve.
Everyone 's at least broken a bone or injured themselves before right? Well this is one of those tragic stories where I unfortunately injured myself. It all started way back in the 5th grade and all my friends and family know I love & play the game of baseball. The baseball season for the little league I play for is about to begin in about 1-2 weeks.
For the last eight years, softball has shaped my life and taught me many things about leadership, sportsmanship, and how to work as a team. Softball has always made me happy, it’s not just the sport that makes me happy, but it’s the place that I get to go and the people that I get to play it with. Every time I’m on the field or in the cages I feel the most content. The softball field and cages are my sanctuary.
My Experiences in Softball Crack! That was the sound echoing off my bat. Down the baseline I went running, turning first base looking to see where the ball was. Sliding into second base, I was safe. I stood up and heard the roar of the crowd.
