Sophia Faginski '24 Recruiting Profile

It all started when I was a toddler. My father and I would play catch for hours on end. Eventually, once I was old enough and my father noticed I had talent, he signed me up for t-ball. I started playing the sport of softball when I was five years old. I started playing in a travel league called NEYSA from 10U through 16U. I then tried out for an all year round Western Mass Travel Team called Diamond Jaxx. I was the starting pitcher for this Western Mass travel team at fifteen years old on the 18U team. Unfortunately because of Covid, the spring season was taken away. Despite this, I continued to play on the Western Mass Travel team during the off season. Before you knew it, high school was right around the corner. I currently attend South Hadley High School in Massachusetts. Freshman year I made Varsity starting pitcher. This year, as a Sophomore, I held my position on Varsity as Starting Pitcher.  It all started mentally when I was around ten years old. Yes, I had talent but I also had heart. Not only has softball been a big part of my whole life, but it has taught me all of my qualities as a person; leadership, dedication, and motivation. Playing an important position on the field as such a young athlete has taught me how to be a leader. Leadership is not only a huge role on the field but also in your everyday life. It sets you off into the right path of being a good person. Softball has also shown me how much dedication I have. I put my whole heart and soul into softball. Not only has softball shown me how to be a dedicated person on the field but the dedication it taught me has carried through to my school work and work ethic. I currently manage working four nights a week, spending time with family, and keeping up my good grades. Lastly, softball has given me my motivation. It's what keeps me going. My motivation for this sport is unreal. No matter the scenario, whether I'm tired, too hot, too cold, having a bad day, or extremely busy. I still make sure I get to the field, get the workout in, get that one extra lap,...every day. Not only am I working on my own time but I am also working with my pitching trainer. My heart for the sport has always pushed me to become a better athlete. When I was younger it was a dream to play at the college level, but now its a goal. A goal that I'm going to achieve, no matter how much time and effort I have to put in. From here on out, until I achieve this goal I will continue to maintain my GPA and become a better athlete.