University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Photo by: Justin Pondexter/Pitt Athletics
Alexee Haynes: Dear Softball
4/17/2020 11:02:00 AM | Softball
Dear Softball,
The minute I picked you up for the first time, I didn't realize how big of an impact you would have on my life. You're not just a sport but a life lesson. The fun part is a plus. As the game grew from hitting off a tee to timing up a 65 mph pitch, I grew with it. I started out playing for fun. I truly never thought something so fun could escalate into a complete lifestyle like it has. I bonded so quickly with you that there was no way I could've quit. When you pick up on things and become so good at it you sometimes forget to sit and realize the worth of that thing.
One thing my coach always calls me is a sunflower, I'm pretty sure, as well as everyone else knows, that's my favorite flower. Why? It always faces the sun, which brings happiness and joy. That's the characteristic I love most about myself. I hope that my ending chapter with the game hasn't left my batting average, diving play, or weight I lifted in someone's memory but that of my smile, laughter, and joyfulness has. I can sit here and say all the great things I accomplished in life, I can talk about just me; but I'm not that type of person at all. I want to tell you my "why." Why I played.
When you grow up in a small town you can either be the person with big dreams that goes out and explores the world or you can stay content in your small town and be happy with that too. Well as a little girl and watching college softball, the Olympics having it; I made a dream. I set a goal and I found a role model. When I started to slowly reach that goal to go to a D1 college and play softball I didn't realize I became a role model for girls like I used to be. I didn't realize all the people that kept up with me from Sissonville, W. Va. All the people that always cheered me on whether on the field or in school. I may not have truly owned up to all that happening because I didn't think I needed to explain to anyone else how special my hometown was to me. But Sissonville, W. Va., was my "why."
For those little girls in a small town with big dreams, you all can achieve the same things I have AND more. I strive for you all to do that. All the people that I met along the way, you all impacted my life somehow and will always have a place in my heart; you all are my "why" too. Family and friends are always are my "why" no matter what in life. But most importantly the two people that put me into this world are my biggest "why." My mom and dad. Softball allowed me to become so close with my parents at different times in my life. I thank it for that unconditionally.
From winning the championship in little league to Gatorade player of the year, before college even started I was truly happy and thankful for the life of softball. I kept going because of these "whys." So I want to thank all those people for getting me through it. Yes, I could've done more. Tons of people encouraged me to do more. It isn't what I wanted though. I could've made more but life happens and I just did not continue to make any more goals because the one thing I had for myself was happiness. That goes a lot further than anything else. It has given me everything I dreamed of and more. It has given me the ability to experience life in ways some kids will never be able to.
I was truly blessed where I was and where I have turned out. Heck everyone's story can't end how they want it to, right? I may have been cut short for my final goodbyes, but it is all the things that were accomplished before those that made it so easy. All the laughs, memories, friendships; were treasurable. Softball, I thank you until the very end. I also thank that little girl who picked you up and was headset on her dreams. I can sit back and say I did it. Now I want others to start doing it too.
The minute I picked you up for the first time, I didn't realize how big of an impact you would have on my life. You're not just a sport but a life lesson. The fun part is a plus. As the game grew from hitting off a tee to timing up a 65 mph pitch, I grew with it. I started out playing for fun. I truly never thought something so fun could escalate into a complete lifestyle like it has. I bonded so quickly with you that there was no way I could've quit. When you pick up on things and become so good at it you sometimes forget to sit and realize the worth of that thing.
One thing my coach always calls me is a sunflower, I'm pretty sure, as well as everyone else knows, that's my favorite flower. Why? It always faces the sun, which brings happiness and joy. That's the characteristic I love most about myself. I hope that my ending chapter with the game hasn't left my batting average, diving play, or weight I lifted in someone's memory but that of my smile, laughter, and joyfulness has. I can sit here and say all the great things I accomplished in life, I can talk about just me; but I'm not that type of person at all. I want to tell you my "why." Why I played.
When you grow up in a small town you can either be the person with big dreams that goes out and explores the world or you can stay content in your small town and be happy with that too. Well as a little girl and watching college softball, the Olympics having it; I made a dream. I set a goal and I found a role model. When I started to slowly reach that goal to go to a D1 college and play softball I didn't realize I became a role model for girls like I used to be. I didn't realize all the people that kept up with me from Sissonville, W. Va. All the people that always cheered me on whether on the field or in school. I may not have truly owned up to all that happening because I didn't think I needed to explain to anyone else how special my hometown was to me. But Sissonville, W. Va., was my "why."
For those little girls in a small town with big dreams, you all can achieve the same things I have AND more. I strive for you all to do that. All the people that I met along the way, you all impacted my life somehow and will always have a place in my heart; you all are my "why" too. Family and friends are always are my "why" no matter what in life. But most importantly the two people that put me into this world are my biggest "why." My mom and dad. Softball allowed me to become so close with my parents at different times in my life. I thank it for that unconditionally.
From winning the championship in little league to Gatorade player of the year, before college even started I was truly happy and thankful for the life of softball. I kept going because of these "whys." So I want to thank all those people for getting me through it. Yes, I could've done more. Tons of people encouraged me to do more. It isn't what I wanted though. I could've made more but life happens and I just did not continue to make any more goals because the one thing I had for myself was happiness. That goes a lot further than anything else. It has given me everything I dreamed of and more. It has given me the ability to experience life in ways some kids will never be able to.
I was truly blessed where I was and where I have turned out. Heck everyone's story can't end how they want it to, right? I may have been cut short for my final goodbyes, but it is all the things that were accomplished before those that made it so easy. All the laughs, memories, friendships; were treasurable. Softball, I thank you until the very end. I also thank that little girl who picked you up and was headset on her dreams. I can sit back and say I did it. Now I want others to start doing it too.
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