Makayla Pepe '18 Recruiting Profile

My name is Makayla Pepe (pape). My dream is to play softball in college whether it's division 1 or at a junior college or in between. I haven't always played softball I starting swimming when I was 6 yrs old. I swam for club teams till I was 12 yrs old.  I started playing softball basically when it was the off time for swim. I started when I was 9 for the Town of New Hartford in New York. I starting playing short stop. We moved from NY to AZ when I was 10 yrs old and swam there and played softball. I swam for Rio Swim club and played ball for the Lady Titans a division of Babe Ruth League. I even met Babe Ruth's daughter which was really cool and got her autograph. My father has been my coach on most of the teams that I had played thus far. He just happen to put me at first base when I was on the Lady Titans because our first baseman was sick and I loved it. I was good at it and had never played first base before. It felt natural to play first base. After the season was over with the Lady Titans I wanted to keep playing softball and decided to find out which club teams were going to have tryouts. Being on JV at Aki-mel Middle School I was friends with twins who played on a club team. They told me all about club ball life and I wanted in. I ended up trying out for a team called AZ Storm and got on the team as a utility player. That's where I played center field which became my second favorite position. I found I could track the ball being in center field very well and my quickness helped me tremendously to get to the ball. I found that I loved softball more than I loved swimming and softball became my main sport. We moved back to NY in November of 2012 so I missed softball season in NY. I was in New Hartford School District for 7th grade and played on the Modified softball team where once again my father was the coach. I didn't mind him being the coach because I knew he would push me and be harder on me than the other girls on the team.  During the summer of 2013 I played on the GUGS league and on the Illion Summer league as well. I stayed in New Hartford till winter break of 2013 then we moved to Verona where I went to VVS Middle School. I tried out for the JV/Varsity team but was told we'd rather have you on a team where you can help than be on a team where you wouldn't play as much because both teams have full rosters. I was upset but I was still playing ball. We had our first practice and I wasn't put at first but put at short stop and I didn't understand why. I asked my coach and she said she needed a leader on the field and short stop was the best place for the leader, that's why you're playing short stop. I told her thank you and whatever you need coach.We moved into the Westmoreland School District at the beginning of the school year for the 2015 season. I made the varsity team and being 1 of 2 9th graders felt great! Again I didn't play 1st but it was ok I was still on the team. I played left field and 3rd. I have to admit playing the corners is great and everyone can hear me rally my team. I was given the coaches award from my coach and was very surprised. During the summer I play travel ball and didn't play my normal 1st base position but was put at third until one game during a showcase tournament I was put behind the plate and I loved it! I never caught before and was terrified but it's now my favorite position along with third and first.

 I'm not the typical first baseman. I'm not tall or left handed but I'm quick and can move where I need to. I can stretch to a ball if the throw isn't great or jump to a ball if it's over my head. I' can hit right handed (preferred) or left and slap which may not be great but I can do it. I can go anywhere on the field except on the mound and will give 110% everytime.

Softball is my one love, and I hope to make it to the college level.