Coach Cory Fastpitch

I read a post from Danielle Lawrie this morning and her quote "don't expect D1 results with rec league effort" really hit. Too many kids and parents want to be great, they want the wins, the best travel team name on their jersey, and the D1 scholarship offer. But that takes SO MUCH WORK. You don't get there by going to your weekly team practices, seeing your pitching/hitting coaches once a week, and showing up to games. That's the BARE MINIMUM! The time you spend on your own when no one is watching, that's where you push yourself to the next level. 🙌

After my cancer diagnosis at 11 years old, I had to strengthen my muscles that had just been torn up from a posterolateral thoracotomy procedure. I was working out at home until I could go to the gym at 13 years old. I had to work on my cardio to recover from the section of my lung that was removed. I was pitching in my basement almost daily. I went to a field with my dad multiple times a week, and not just for pitching which was my love, but also to practice my hitting and to field ground balls. I threw against the brick wall of my elementary school to work on quicker reflexes and my dad even gave me quizzes on the rules of the game. As I got older, I lifted 3x per week and I took yoga classes and kick boxing classes from my 9th grade English teacher who taught at my gym. 👏

This is all on top of going to weekly pitching lessons, going to two days a week of 3 hour HARD team practice, and going to national level tournaments all over the country. Plus I spent hours doing SAT and ACT prep and writing hundreds of emails to college coaches. I was tired, I was emotionally drained, and I was pushing myself hard. But I got the full ride scholarship to pitch in one of the nation's toughest conferences. 🥎

So do some reflection on yourself and if you're a parent do some reflection your kid...what level of effort are you/your kid putting in? 🤔

My girls all getting to meet Patty while in Colorado! Made my day! 💜 I love this sport and how it brings people together from my past and current softball lives! 🥎

When I first met I knew I would be watching her play on TV one day and here I am watching her on ESPN+! Ben and I will always be your biggest fans kiddo! What an awesome night!