Kimberly Basile is her team's leadoff hitter, sports a .378 batting average and is an excellent defensive catcher. One of the best players in her county, she recently earned a scholarship to play softball in college.

The fact that Basile was born with just one hand? A complete afterthought.

"I don't see myself as a disabled person, because I've learned to do things by myself," Basile told CBS New York


 "I don’t like to ask for help for things."

Behind the plate, Basile, a senior at Island Trees HS in Levittown, N.Y., keeps the glove on her right hand. She has no left hand. When the ball comes in from the pitcher, she catches it, then quickly switches her glove off so she can throw the ball back with her right hand. The action is so fast it's almost not even discernable to the naked eye.

"It just happens so naturally for her," her coach Michael Bonsignore said. "It happens so quickly that some opponent don't even realize, coaches don't even realize that she only has one hand and she's doing it."

Basile has not made a single error all season. At the plate, Basile hits right handed, balancing the bat between her right hand and her left arm. She's one of Island Trees' best hitters. Next year, she'll play at nearby Farmingdale State on Long Island.

In addition to softball, Basile plays volleyball and bowls for Island Trees. She also plays the trumpet. All three of those things are difficult for someone with only one hand, yet Basile makes them seem easy.

Basile's story is reminiscent of former New York Yankees pitcher Jim Abbott, who was born without a right hand. Abbott pitched 10 years in the major leagues and even tossed a no-hitter for the Yankees in 1993.

"She sends the message [of] 'have no fear, get out there, live your life, be a leader,'" said Nicholas Grande, the principal of Island Trees.

That message is being heard loud and clear.

Written by Marc Raimondi