My daughter will kill me when I tell her that I shared this, but I think it may be instructive to someone out there as far as the attitude it takes to be a pitcher. She wrote this as an essay for a school assignment when she was a senior in high school. Some may think it is corny and maybe it is, but it really captures how she approached her job. I have shared this with students over the years and it seems to resonate with other young pitchers.
"Some people play softball so that they can have pizza parties and be patted on the back and told “good job” just for doing what they are supposed to do. That isn’t my game.
Looking back now I never knew it would lead to this. To traveling around the country only to compete in the most rigorous competition with the top teams in the country. My teammates are among the top players, and so am I. To playing the game that takes up three fourths of your life. To being on the field for eight to ten hours, and then back the next morning at seven a.m. for another eight hours. This isn’t for the average player. These are the great ones. The ones that spend hours conditioning and practicing, only to play seven innings of a game. Seven innings of giving your all and not expecting anything back in return. Seven innings of owning your opponents, of pushing yourself past your capacity.
When people come up against me, they think they know what they are in for, but they don’t have the slightest clue. Every game I go on that field thinking that I will exceed anyone and everyone’s expectations. They don’t know that I spend hours a day, everyday, perfecting my game so that I can play better than they can. Some think it is only about playing and practicing when your coach tells you to. And it is, if you just want to fit in with the other players.
When I think of those days when I began pitching, I had no idea that I would end up with a scholarship to a division 1 college, which is the best division there is. Ever since the day I started, all the way back then, I have always been a player that never gives up and doesn’t let any barricades get in my way. I was born with a natural understanding of the words “I will not be beat.” That has been my attitude since coming into the game when I was six years old.”
"Some people play softball so that they can have pizza parties and be patted on the back and told “good job” just for doing what they are supposed to do. That isn’t my game.
Looking back now I never knew it would lead to this. To traveling around the country only to compete in the most rigorous competition with the top teams in the country. My teammates are among the top players, and so am I. To playing the game that takes up three fourths of your life. To being on the field for eight to ten hours, and then back the next morning at seven a.m. for another eight hours. This isn’t for the average player. These are the great ones. The ones that spend hours conditioning and practicing, only to play seven innings of a game. Seven innings of giving your all and not expecting anything back in return. Seven innings of owning your opponents, of pushing yourself past your capacity.
When people come up against me, they think they know what they are in for, but they don’t have the slightest clue. Every game I go on that field thinking that I will exceed anyone and everyone’s expectations. They don’t know that I spend hours a day, everyday, perfecting my game so that I can play better than they can. Some think it is only about playing and practicing when your coach tells you to. And it is, if you just want to fit in with the other players.
When I think of those days when I began pitching, I had no idea that I would end up with a scholarship to a division 1 college, which is the best division there is. Ever since the day I started, all the way back then, I have always been a player that never gives up and doesn’t let any barricades get in my way. I was born with a natural understanding of the words “I will not be beat.” That has been my attitude since coming into the game when I was six years old.”
