97-whap, 98-whap, 99-whap, 100-whap!
100 swings. That's how many star softball player Kaitlin* took every day in high school. Making the varsity team at a high school that's been to the state championship every year since its establishment should have been accomplishment enough, but Kaitlin was determined to do more. By her senior year, she was not only a captain but held every all-time hitting school record. Even so, all these accomplishments were not enough for Kaitlin–she hoped to play on Team USA but knew that to do so, she would need to make it to the Division 1 level first.
Junior year was the year to do it. She had already spoken to some top D1 softball programs and all seemed interested…but which to choose? For Kaitlin, it couldn't just be any school, it had to be the school. The one that would set her up for life, and by junior year, she thought she just might have found it.
First was the official visit. As soon as Kaitlin stepped on campus, the coaches treated her like royalty. They took her out to eat, made sure the hotel was perfect, and even gave her tickets to the football game! This is it, she thought. This campus had it all: the perfect facilities, great teammates (she already made 3 new friends that day), and super nice coaches. After such an eventful day, Kaitlin verbally committed as fast as she could.
Related: Daily Grind: A Day in the Life of Former Division I Softball Player Logan Wood
Nothing could go wrong. Until summertime rolled around, that is.
Every ballplayer thrives in the summer: no class, no stress, and most importantly, non stop games. Kaitlin had talked with the coach about playing with her future teammates over the summer, but she was still 16. The thought of playing with girls more than 4 years older was intimidating; plus she was already in the 18 and under division. Maybe next year, she reasoned.
Only her future coach didn't see it that way. After threatening to lower her scholarship money if she didn't play in their summer league, the coach eventually dropped her before the fall of her senior year. Why waste good money on a girl that isn't willing to do exactly what you want, right?
Related: 10 Recruiting Questions With Swarthmore College Softball Coach Melissa Finley
Left with only 2 semesters of school left, Kaitlin was forced to start her recruiting process over. She went back to her list of interested schools. Before falling into a complete panic mode, Kaitlin remembered a coach she had talked to sophomore year. One of her former teammates already played at the school. Why not reach out? After extensively speaking with the coach, visiting the campus, and seeking the advice of former teammates; Kaitlin decided it was time to make things official. In the fall of her senior year, Kaitlin had done it. She signed to play Division 1 softball and took the first step towards her dreams.
In a matter of months, Kaitlin went from watching her destiny be taken away because of a silly summer ball league to creating her future the way she always envisioned. Her first choice may not have been the school for softball, but it was the school that toughened her up, making her more determined than ever to reach her goals. In her mind, everything has a purpose, and her purpose was to play softball-nothing was going to stop her.
*Name has been changed for anonymity
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* Originally published on March 7, 2023, by Rachel Pike
