I’ve spent my whole life thinking about how I wanted to play college softball and how excited I was for it. Until my senior year…
Athletes talk about getting burnt out of their sport all the time, and you never think it’s going to happen to you. I wouldn’t have ever thought that I was going to lose the love for the sport I’ve played since I was a little girl.
When I was younger all I wanted to do was play softball. Whether it was just playing catch in the front yard or even just swinging my bat, my love for softball was unconditional. I started off playing in the PigTail league in Robinson at just five years old. I joined travel ball when I was nine years old, and I played for Robinson Dynamite. I then played for Casey Chaos, Illiana Dream Seams, then played multiple years at Extreme located in Flat Rock.
I originally lost the love for the sport after my awful experience I had my freshman year in Robinson. I then transferred over to Palestine right before sophomore year. I had two amazing coaches that helped me regain my love for softball, as well as a great team to be a part of. I got first team all conference and 3rd team all state as a sophomore.
Junior year season started off a little rocky, but I was still enjoying softball. For at least part of the season. We got about three quarters of the way through the season when I started dreading going to softball again. I wasn’t believing myself when I thought I was losing the love for softball again. I had convinced myself that I wasn’t burnt out, and that I was just tired.
Travel ball came around in the summer and I was loving it. Travel ball has always been my favorite thing to do during the summer. Until the second tournament of that season. I dislocated my knee and ended up having to have surgery because I also tore my Potella tendon. I still went to all the tournaments to support my team even though I was on crutches and in an immobilizer. It really bothered me being able to see my teammates getting to play and me having to sit there and cheer them on.
Senior season came around and right out of the gate, it didn’t feel like normal. I wasn’t as excited as I normally am. Games started and it was just like any other day. Softball didn’t feel like a fun game anymore. It felt like a job.
I then start to have major elbow and knee pain again and have not been to the doctor because I want to finish off my senior season. I have decided with all of my injuries that I would be officially done after this year.
I will forever cherish the friendships and memories I made from softball, but my playing days are over. I’m going to college, but not to play college ball, like I always thought I would.
Thank you, softball, for building and making me the person I am today.
