What began as an opportunity to bring in some additional money to offset daycare costs for two kids, turned into my purpose in life. Softball has been intertwined into the fabric of my being since I was a little kid. A multi-sport athlete all through high school, athletics have shaped the person I am today for various reasons. I had taken hiatus from coaching for a few years while I worked a ‘real job’ and my girls were little (17 months apart…not on purpose). In the fall of 2019, my husband and I had the opportunity to move to a property that allowed me room to begin giving catching and hitting lessons. My goal was to take 8 students that would help offset our daycare costs. What I didn’t know, is this was the beginning of a larger purpose and greater impact. 

As I met these young ladies and their families, the first thing out of their parents’ mouth as I got to know them was, “she has no confidence”. Shortly thereafter I received a phone call from my sister-in-law to inform me that a good friend of my 12 year old niece (at the time) had died by suicide. All because two boys walked up to her on the playground and said, “you are fat, ugly and should kill yourself”…she did. At this point I looked into the eyes of my little girls and asked myself what kind of influences I want in their lives – influences that will pour life and confidence into them. Influences that will build them up and help them establish their own self-confidence, so they know their self-worth. At this point if an environment like was to exist, I knew it was up to me to create it using softball as the platform to do so…this is how it all began.