Descriptive Essay On Becoming A Pitcher

The night sky was upon us; the diamond had no illumination except for a single bulb mounted on the side of the equipment shed. Tryouts for the 10U fastpitch team had run late and were finishing up under the light of the stars. In any case, I felt perfectly content and in my element, as though this sport had chosen me; not the other way around. Its complexity challenged my cognitive abilities and electrified my motor skills in a manner unlike any other. As I packed up my gear, the coach's voice could be heard above the chatter calling for all pitchers to begin warming up. Could I become a pitcher? Would they suspect I had no previous experience? With determination, I ran in the direction of the flickering light, unaware of what lay ahead or how that decision to return to the field would put me on a life-altering path.
Learning to fire a spinning softball past a batter may sound like a frivolous exercise, but, on the contrary, each pitch requires one to have the explosiveness of a sprinter, the balance of a gymnast and the finesse and grace of a ballet dancer with all parts firing in sync - perfectly timed.
This intricate movement, unique in sports, requires years of dedication and hard work to master with only a select few making the cut. Situated in the center of the diamond, the pitcher performs under intense pressure and gets tested on every throw. Her exquisite motion, masterfully displayed, can only be truly appreciated by the trained eye of another like herself. Fast-pitch takes up a large percentage of my free time and, like academics, forms an important part of my education. Notwithstanding my passion for the game, I am able to put it in perspective; not allowing it to define who I
am. The decision to accept the challenge of competition comes with the responsibility of repeatedly having to risk failure. My reputation, hanging like a spider in a windstorm, is dependent on the outcome of my last performance and in order to survive I must find the resilience and mental stamina required to continuously live outside of my comfort zone. Even so, my participation in the game has had lasting benefits with respect to character development which, combined with strong parental involvement, has created a solid foundation that will be beneficial in all areas going forward. Furthermore, fastpitch has given me the tools to be a better communicator, even a better student, and simply stated, adds color and another dynamic to my life. Last summer the benefits were apparent when I was able to put my skills to the test while mentoring young softball players and for the first time, I understood what it means to give back. I felt a sense of pride in my role as a pitching instructor and was touched by the player’s enthusiasm and willingness to learn what I had to offer them. More recently, I was added to the roster of the Canadian Junior Women’s National Team and my dream of one day playing in the Olympics for Canada is that much closer. At this stage in my development, I understand that the energy expended in the attainment of my goals is in the context of a marathon, not a sprint and as I learn and grow the experience and lessons learned from sports will positively affect the way I approach future challenges. My desire is to pursue ‘an education in the liberal arts that is characterized by boldness, rigor, and practical idealism’ in order to discover and shape my voice over four years of undergraduate study in preparation for law school.
If given the opportunity to attend Wesleyan, I will continuously strive to contribute something truthful and of value to the college community’s positive exchange of ideas.