Standing at the base, the anticipation is high, while the room for error is low. Despite the tensions experienced at the moment, the determination and hard work of Millard North High School’s softball team throughout the season is what really counts.
On Monday, October 16th, theMillard North’s softball team played at the state championship for the first time in 30 years.
All the hard work and dedication that the players have been through have finally paid off.
Senior Kymmia Roberts-Brown also resonated with this proud feeling as well.
“I was honestly so excited and proud of my team because we all worked so hard to get there. Hearing that we were qualified for state was the best news ever,” Roberts-Brown said.
The MNHS softball team isn’t just a group of motivated individuals, but the culture between them is similar to that of a family. Roberts-Brown also thinks of the bunch as not just teammates, but more than that.
“The connection with my team is so beautiful. We are a family and everyone thinks of it that way, which is what makes us play so well at the end of the day. [We] know [that] everyone has each other’s backs [and it] is what makes us the team we are today.
Sophomore Jaelyn Swift also believes that they are more than just teammates.
“This season was one of our best seasons yet, we are such a young team and the culture we had was what brought us all together. This year we really focused on culture and being one whole group. When you see all of us together we are all the same person [and] there aren’t any classes on our team when we play together. There aren’t just a few people we have to count on, we have a full line-up that can do their job,” Swift said.
Both Roberts-Brown and Swift started engaging in the sport from quite a young age.
“My dad worked for a shirt company called Primetime when I was about 6 years old and there was a hitting cage in the back of the workshop. He took me in there one day to hit just for fun and we realized that I was very talented and athletic so I got focused and serious about the game, and it just became a lifestyle to me,” Roberts-Brown said.
Swift had a similar experience. One with her family being involved in these kinds of sports as well.
“The reason why I joined softball was because I grew up around my family playing baseball and softball so I decided to join and it has been great so far,” Swift said.
Famous softball players are also a motivation for some. Whether it’s Rachel Garcia, Sierra Romero, or Jennie Finch, the members of MNHS softball not only reflect on their own experiences, but they look up to several others in the same field.
“The biggest role model for me is Peaches Jones because her being a Black female softball player is so encouraging and inspirational as I am also a Black female softball player,” Roberts-Brown said.
Role models in softball have not only been an inspiration but have also allowed some to strive to reach a goal based on their idol.
“Jocelyn Alo is one of my idols who has a big part in my life when it comes to softball not just because she hits well, but because she always puts her team first before herself, and no matter what happens when she is at the plate she has the same attitude and energy. A goal I have for softball is to have more home runs than Jocelyn Alo and to be able to make it to the big school for softball,.” Swift said.
The achievements that have recently been made by the MN Softball Team are truly outstanding. It’s clear that their hard work and dedication have extremely paid off.