Leila Ruiz '22 Recruiting Profile

I was exposed to t-ball at the age of five and then transitioned to recreational softball at the age of seven.  When I was in 3rd grade, I had to make a decision whether to play soccer or softball. I was good at both sports, but I found softball to be more exciting and fun. By the age of 10, I realized that I had a passion for softball and wanted to play travel, which is more competitive. I had a rocky start since I’ve never played travel before and had to put more effort and extra time into the sport. It wasn’t easy since everyone from my team had previous experience with travel ball, but I overcame that by practicing my hitting, fielding, pitching and throwing, thus eventually made improvements.  

The Spring of 2018, I volunteered for the Springwood Challenger Sports Program in Wall Township. This program works with disabled children and helps them play sports. The year I volunteered, they concentrated on softball. I was paired up with a seven year old boy named Oliver who has autism and never stopped smiling. We played catch, I guided him on the field, explained the game to him, and even cheered him on and off the field. He was the sweetest boy, and my favorite part was running the bases with him because he got so happy and had so much energy.

What I learned about myself through this sport is that I can play great under pressure and keep a calm state of mind when pitching. If the opposing team/crowd cheers really loud, it doesn’t bother or affect me. I always maintain a good composure on and off the field.  At times when mistakes are made, I recover quickly and move on to the next play. I am interested in a college that is on the east coast and is well-invested in both academics and athletics. My goal is to play varsity softball and obtain straight A’s throughout high school and college.