My baseball career is characterized by working through obstacles and staying determined during setbacks. In my youth baseball days, I was always small and a late bloomer, so I was never a star. I always worked hard to find ways to contribute to my team. Other kids progressed faster than me as they grew and I stayed small, but I loved the game, so I worked to get stronger and smoother. During my 8th grade year of school, I suffered a severe Tibia/Fibula fracture, and I was out for eight months, so I missed my 14U season. I bounced back and worked so I could be healthy for high school tryouts my freshman year and I made JV. After high school tryouts, the coaches saw me practice and began having me work with the varsity team. Then, COVID came along, and the season was cancelled before any games. The summer of COVID, I played my 15U season on a 15U/16U team which forced me to leap from 13U to 16U. It was a challenge and one I felt I met successfully. I worked hard during the off season and my sophomore year I started at second base for my high school varsity team and at shortstop for my travel team. It was my best year of baseball yet. I still had challenges, but I had developed a great work ethic and a resistance to discouragement. I lead my high school team in RBIs and hit the most homeruns and triples of my entire baseball career. I was able to help my team succeed in multiple ways and that was amazing. I am lucky to have a high school baseball coach and a travel coach who are hard on me but also encouraging and loyal. They both have helped me to become a significantly better baseball player, teammate and person. My best years of baseball are ahead of me. My determination and excitement for the sport only continues to grow. Throughout my life, I have had to push through tough times and persevere. I have had to earn everything I have and am grateful for the opportunity to play and to be part of my team. I believe as long as I work hard, stay humble, and keep my team-attitude I will find myself around others with the same values and together we will be successful.
