Jillian

What do they love most about playing their sport(s)?

What I love most about playing softball is the way friends I make along the way. The teammates I play with help make me into the athlete I am. As much as I love the competitive passion for softball, it would be nothing without my best friends along the way. The girls make me who I am. I don’t see softball without the encouraging team by side.

Who inspires them—on or off the field—and why?

My mom inspires me because she’s the hardest working woman I know. While an occupation isn’t on my mind the way softball is, I like using softball as my hard working outlet. My mom inspires me to keep going. To persevere. To work even harder than I already am.

What’s one moment in their athletic journey that makes you proudest?

One moment that makes me the proudest is when I was in a travel softball game and we were losing. My team had hung their heads and lowered their morale. I had a good feeling. As I began to cheer even louder, my teammates picked up on it. Girl by girl, they all began to cheer. Our energy was through the roof. With all of the yelling and clapping, we had made a comeback and won the game. I was proud of myself for keeping my spirits high and encouraging the rest of my team to do so.