When and why did you start playing softball?
I started playing softball when I was seven. My parents got me into the sport at a young age and I loved it from the beginning.
Who or what has been your biggest inspiration?
My biggest inspiration has been my parents the last few years. It’s because they have been putting so much time and effort into me and my sport. If it’s transportation or help, they are there, so when success comes out of softball, I like knowing that they’re happy and like they know I’ve been successful.
How do you balance being a multisport athlete?
Making time for both school and softball is important to me. I think that’s something that my parents instilled in me. I try to prioritize work and school first because I think it helps to know, when you have all your work done, then you can just go out and play and enjoy the game. I try to get all my schoolwork done during the week so I can have my weekends free for softball or friends and family time.
At this point in the season, what are your individual goals and the goals of the softball team?
Our team’s goals this season are set at a pretty high standard. I feel like throughout the whole season, we’ve had a high standard because we have a lot of skill on the team. Heading into sections, we want to focus on winning and getting hot and to eventually fight to keep our season going. So far I feel like I’ve been successful, so a goal of mine is to keep that going in sections to contribute to the team the best I can.
What superstitions or pre-game rituals do you have?
I always do bubbles in my hair with a braid. I always have Presley Loberg do them for me. I do it because I think it brings good luck, and I feel like when I don’t do bubbles, we always lose a game or I personally don’t do good.
What is your advice for younger players looking to adapt to varsity?
The advice I would give is to just have fun and branch out to older people or teammates because they can really help and support you when you’re nervous. A specific moment for me was in middle school, I was pitching in my first section game and I was playing with all juniors and seniors. My teammates were very supportive and energetic.
What is the best that has ever been given to you?
The best advice I’ve been given is to sometimes think back and remember why you play the game. It will allow you to just have fun because at the end of the day it’s just a game and you do it to have fun with your teammates and friends, so don’t get caught up in the little things like mistakes and errors.
