Softball Throughout The Years (by Mackenzie Laub)

Softball has been an important part of my life for as long as I can remember.

My career started at Egypt Park in Whitehall on field number 4 – picking daisies in the outfield and looking forward to going to the snack stand for mozzarella sticks after games.

During my time at Egypt, I learned all the fundamentals of softball from two amazing coaches – Kevin Hutter and my father, Dennis Laub.

My dad is my role model in life and he will always be my first and favorite coach I’ve ever had. He always does what is best for me at the drop of a hat and is always there for me.

I started my tournament career with the Lehigh Valley Patriot Flames after my time playing for Egypt. I was trying my best to learn and navigate the game as best I could while trying to have as much fun as I could.

I have so many memories from my first year of travel ball, but my all-time favorite was when we were playing in our final tournament in Quakertown. It was a night owl tournament where all of our games were played late at night and I thought it was so cool that we were allowed to eat candy in the dugout to keep us awake during our games. We won the tournament! That is still a moment I will never forget.

The next season would be a very different experience for me. We got a new coach and he truly changed the sport of softball for me.

Coach Joe Gmitter taught me mostly everything I know about the game of softball and without him I would not be the player I am today. I would end up playing for him for nine years. Those years were the best years of my life.
I was able to play every position on the field besides pitcher and catcher for him, but ultimately he developed me into the outfielder I am today.

Playing for Coach Joe for nine years came with so many amazing experiences. He not only taught me the game of softball, but also to be a better person as well. I was the only original member left when the team collapsed at the end of last summer. I still remember when we were playing our last tournament in Alabama and I had the final at- bat of the tournament. Coach Joe called time out, called me down and all he did was give me a hug and say, “I am so proud of you, go get one more hit.”

The most famous quote he ever taught me was, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

I think that this can apply to so many aspects in life, not only softball. My college coach recently used this quote and it brought so many flashbacks about my days playing travel ball.

In my final season before I came to college, my team ended up getting 3rd place overall in the USSSA Space Coast National Tournament, 2nd place in the USSSA Gulf Shores Alabama National Tournament, and being the #1 team in the 18u age division in the state of Pennsylvania.

I am thankful for my time as a Flame, but I am also able to say that playing softball at Whitehall High School was an amazing, unforgettable experience.

I had the opportunity to play for two of the greatest high school softball coaches the Lehigh Valley has ever had: Blake Morgan and Ed Stinner.

Coaches Morgan and Stinner are two of the main reasons why my softball career has continued into college. They sharpened my skills and shaped me into a collegiate athlete. Countless hours of practice and endless reps in right field made me into the player I am.

During my time at Whitehall our team was a 3 time District IX runner up, qualified for the Pennsylvania state tournament three times, and made the league tournament three straight years as well.

The biggest piece of advice I can give younger softball players is to respect the game and respect your coaches. Also, know that the littlest opportunities do not go unnoticed and everything happens for a reason.

Without softball I truly do not know where I would be. Most of my childhood memories revolve around softball and without this sport I would not be the person I am today. I am so thankful for all of my coaches who have given me the opportunity to play the sport I love. I am so incredibly thankful for all of my amazing teammates who pushed me to be the best every single day. Most importantly I would like to thank my parents for being the inspiration for me playing the game.

Thank you softball for the amazing coaches, endless friendships, and most importantly so many memories that will last a lifetime.

 

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