I love the game of softball. Playing is truly my passion, since playing in the batting cages when I was 4, and my older brother was at batting lessons. I wanted to play too.  My team is like my second family.  I am the biggest cheerleader (literally at 6 ft tall) for our team, cheering and lifting up my teammates both when we have success and when we are down. I believe it is more important to be a good person, loving, kind, and supportive than for someone to be the best player on the team and showboat and act like no one can outplay them.  Nobody likes that kind of player or person.  We are all out there fighting for the same goal and working together. It is a team sport, we are a team and a family with the same goals.  I have seen very good players who have attitudes and act like they are the only important person on the field.  I never want to act like that.  I do my best to keep my composure and stay positive.  I am a very hard worker and put in the time it takes to keep improving. I personally schedule time with my catcher two times a week, see a personal trainer, and get workouts in with friends on other teams when my team is not practicing.  I challenge myself and feel rewarded when other coaches in higher age brackets in my organization ask if I can help them out in their tournaments too. I always want more, I push myself to be the best I can be on and off the field.  I am starting to give pitching lessons to 8u and 10u players just starting out, and I love it. I see myself being involved with softball for the rest of my life.   I look forward to playing softball at a college level, training, and practicing, building and growing with my team, and giving back to my community, and developing lifelong friendships.   As a pitcher and first baseman, I am able to use my strong leadership skills on and off the field.  When I am on the mound, I keep my composure and dig deep when it gets tough.  If I am not pitching and see the pitcher is struggling, I encourage her and tell her she is fine, and just breathe.  I love to watch college-level players and professional games, to see plays and understand the sport at a deeper level.  My desire and drive is to work harder, learn more, and be a well-rounded team player, who is always coachable and gives 110% all the time.  I work hard in every practice and training.  I work hard for my coaches, my team, and myself to become the best player I can be both on the field and in my everyday life.  My academics and studies always come first.  I go to Keith Country Day School, it is a college prep school where academics are most important. I know if my grades are not good I can't play softball.  I do my best in the classroom and challenge myself with harder classes, put in extra study time. Between school and softball, I think it is also important to find time to volunteer. I help at homeless shelters, food pantries, and animal shelters. I mainly play infield as a pitcher or first base, but will always run to any position the coach sends me to with a smile on my face.  I hope to find a college team that will push me to be a better player and find success academically, as I want to go into physical therapy, potentially becoming a sports physical therapist.  I want to develop as a teammate, strong role model, and leader for my team.  The best part of softball is having teammates, family, and friends pushing you to be your best on and off the field. Coaches, teammates, family, and friends are always there for you if you are in a slump or having a hard time hitting, fielding, or pitching anything I know I can go up to my coaches or teammates and say hey I want to work on fielding. Then there I am on the field working hard so I can get better and tips so I can spread it across my team. I love being a team leader I have a lot of confidence in my team and myself that I can be my best on and off the field so I can lead and help little girls where I was 5 years ago and watch them successfully succeed to be their best.
Madelyn Merschman