2016 was a year of highs and lows, but I would take that every day over living life in the middle. Reflecting over this past year, I wanted to share some of my learning experiences. There are so many moments that taught me so much. Hopefully, you connect and can learn from some of my own experiences.

In June, for the first time in 38 years, a Freshman pitched the championship game for Oshkosh North, back to the Wisconsin State tournament. We hoped to win the first ever state title in school softball history. Despite my cities incredible support, and my teammates heart and hard work, we fell short of reaching our goal to capture the title in a 2-1 extra innings ball game. That game, to this day, is one of the toughest pills I've ever had to swallow.



In less than 24 hours after our state loss, I was right in the fire of Summer ball with my team, the Beverly Bandits Conroy. We were qualifying that weekend for PGF Nationals and from there the summer circuit began. This team was  unstoppable. However, that same team, the one we all felt was prepared to face any team in the country couldn't find a way to walk out of the ballpark with the final trophy at Boulder IDT, DeMarini Invite, and the USA Elite Select World Fastpitch National Championship where I pitched for another Bandit team.

Although I had 43 incredible wins of my own on the mound, my mental toughness was lacking. My mental game has always been a strength of mine but I was losing it. I remember telling my Mom how I didn't want to be remembered as the pitcher/team that couldn't close the last game.

Returning home at the end of July, I went to my high school to help out with our local kids' camp which is one of my favorite things to do. I was having fun watching the kids play, laughing and smiling enjoying all the great things the game had to offer. One Mom walked up to me and thanked me for working with her daughter. She said her daughter would only talked about softball now and she loves it.

Looking at her daughter, I could see myself clear as day when I was her age, covered head to toe in dirt, but with the biggest smile. It hit me, I am still that girl, blessed to do what she fell in love with, every day now.

My mindset changed that day. I told myself I no longer would be worried about being remembered as someone who won all the big championships. I want to be remembered as someone who loved the game, win or lose, I would be smiling because I got to play the game I cherish.

The moment I started playing the game that way, the right way, everything fell into place. My Beverly Bandits Conroy travel team took home the ultimate trophy, winning the 16U PGF National Championship. Just a few months later Hallie Hall (my catcher) and I stayed down on the Beverly Bandits Team Tyrrell 16U in the fall leading a whole new Bandit team to the PGF Shootout Championship on the same field. We left California as Champions once again.



2016 will be remembered as a year with many successes, but those were only possible because of the lessons I learned from the losses. This year, 2017 will be spent loving the game through the good times and through the hard times because the beauty in the game is the opportunity to play it.