University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Gabrielle Fredericks: The Journey
6/12/2019 11:05:00 AM | Softball
Written By: Gabrielle Fredericks
The Journey
Written By: Gabrielle Fredericks
Dear Softball,
It all started with a six year-old Gabrielle playing baseball with the boys. Little did I know at that time the impact the game of softball would have on my life, both on and off the field. After 16 years of playing you, you've taught me more than I could ever imagine. You've taken me on one of the hardest, yet most rewarding journeys of my entire life. You've given me so many teammates that have turned into family. You've given me the opportunity to travel across the country and take the field with some of the best people I have ever met. You've given me coaches who have impacted my life beyond belief. And you've allowed me to play with and against some of the best girls and teams in the country.
I've always loved sports, but when I first started playing softball competitively for Ohio Ice, I fell in love with the game. The lessons I learned from my coach on that team are irreplaceable. He emphasized hard work, perseverance, selflessness, mental toughness and the importance of having fun through all of it. This will forever stick with me as a key to success in life.
You have been with me through so many highs and lows - things definitely weren't always easy. So, thank you for allowing me to celebrate all of the highs and pushing me to work as hard as I could to prove myself instead of letting adversity get the best of me through the lows. Thank you for challenging me physically, mentally and emotionally and making me a stronger person. Who would have known that something so hard could also be so rewarding?
Although my time with you may be over, I will forever be in debt to you for everything that you have given me. Thank you, thank you, thank you to God for the many blessings I have in life. Thank you to my wonderful teammates who have helped me through it all and who have become my sisters. Thank you to my coaches who have taught me so much. Thank you to Coach Dan for believing in me, pushing me and helping me fall in love with the game. Thank you to my family and friends for all of your love and support over the years. And thank you, Softball, for teaching me so many important lessons in life and for showing a little girl from a small town that with a lot of hard work, dreams really can come true.
Sincerely,
Gabrielle Fredericks
Written By: Gabrielle Fredericks
Dear Softball,
It all started with a six year-old Gabrielle playing baseball with the boys. Little did I know at that time the impact the game of softball would have on my life, both on and off the field. After 16 years of playing you, you've taught me more than I could ever imagine. You've taken me on one of the hardest, yet most rewarding journeys of my entire life. You've given me so many teammates that have turned into family. You've given me the opportunity to travel across the country and take the field with some of the best people I have ever met. You've given me coaches who have impacted my life beyond belief. And you've allowed me to play with and against some of the best girls and teams in the country.
I've always loved sports, but when I first started playing softball competitively for Ohio Ice, I fell in love with the game. The lessons I learned from my coach on that team are irreplaceable. He emphasized hard work, perseverance, selflessness, mental toughness and the importance of having fun through all of it. This will forever stick with me as a key to success in life.
You have been with me through so many highs and lows - things definitely weren't always easy. So, thank you for allowing me to celebrate all of the highs and pushing me to work as hard as I could to prove myself instead of letting adversity get the best of me through the lows. Thank you for challenging me physically, mentally and emotionally and making me a stronger person. Who would have known that something so hard could also be so rewarding?
Although my time with you may be over, I will forever be in debt to you for everything that you have given me. Thank you, thank you, thank you to God for the many blessings I have in life. Thank you to my wonderful teammates who have helped me through it all and who have become my sisters. Thank you to my coaches who have taught me so much. Thank you to Coach Dan for believing in me, pushing me and helping me fall in love with the game. Thank you to my family and friends for all of your love and support over the years. And thank you, Softball, for teaching me so many important lessons in life and for showing a little girl from a small town that with a lot of hard work, dreams really can come true.
Sincerely,
Gabrielle Fredericks
Players Mentioned
INF/C
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