Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Athletics

I have been playing softball for the last seven years of my life. Today is the day that I will be saying goodbye to the sport I love, the team I will always cherish, and the kid who never felt more at home when in the batter’s box.
    
There are four people (groups) in particular that come to mind when shaping my softball career. First was Corey Podein. Starting softball as a sophomore in high school and breaking into a tight-knit group of girls, I did not know the rules of the game, who Jenny Finch was, or the basics of swinging a bat. Corey Podein was the manager of the softball team at John Marshall and everyday after practice he and Nicole Kraushaar would stay and work on my hitting with me. I attribute my hitting ability to them, and I don’t know where my bat would be without all the time they put in. Second was also a team effort between the two varsity assistant coaches at John Marshall: Mike Breitbach and Brendan Adams. These two are some of the most kind and fair people I know. Never once did I feel they favor a player over another or treat anyone different. Coming in so late in my career it was a comfort to have two coaches that were so open to a newbie learning the game and asking questions that you learn in 10U softball. Thanks for not only teaching me to be a good softball player, but rather how to be a good person. Third would have to come down to Thang Nguyen, the Head Coach of JM Fastpitch. Thanks for taking a chance on some tennis player when I walked into your office as a sophomore saying I wanted to join the team. The opportunities you gave me were more than I could ask for considering there were cuts in my first year of playing. I appreciate every moment I had as a part of the John Marshall family. Once a Rocket always a Rocket. Finally I need to thank the most vital person in not only my career, but in my life; Mrs. Penelope Ann Macken. From the moment I was born, I was a Grandma’s girl. She has been there for me my entire life and I owe absolutely everything to her. She is honestly the most selfless person I know and even though she doesn’t know much about softball, she is my number one fan no matter where I am. If I could turn out to be half the lady she is, I would feel that I lived an extremely successful life. Raising three kids and turning around and raising three more throughout your retirement years isn't easy and it takes a special kind of lady to do that. There aren’t enough words in the world to describe all of the sacrifices you’ve made and all the wonderful things you have done for my brothers and I. Thank you and I will love you forever and always Grandma.
    
As for the Saint Mary’s Fastpitch team, I have found 3 of my bridesmaids on this team and have made many lifelong friends. Of my four years here, Team 40 is my favorite team and I will never forget the memories we’ve made.
    
Mariah- SENIORS!!! Wipe your eyes and stop crying today is happy day. It is bittersweet, but we are both going to go on to do great things. You are an amazing role model and have a great work ethic! Keep at it and become the best science teacher out there, and coach softball if you get the chance because you would make a great coach. By the way congrats on your home run!
    
Katie- SENIORS!!! Thanks for everything this year. I have never felt closer to you and between all of the fun times in softball, motion design, and you taking me out for my 21st, I have made a great friend. Thanks for everything and I’m not going to be far next year so don’t be afraid to call!
    
Jess- SENIORS!!! Thank you for giving me the courage to play softball here. Without you I would never worked up the gut to talk to Coach Miller. Thanks for being a great friend; our adventures aren’t over yet though! Keep in touch.
    
JUNIORS: Ashley, Kathi, Alexa, Toni, Gabby, and Molly:
This crazy group of girls. For Ashley and Toni, who knocked me out of playoffs my senior year of high school, but then later became great teammates and friends, thanks for all the good times and memories (And to the Betzold family, Ketchup Crotch is going to miss you). Kathi, right field would not be the same without you. Whenever I was stressed up to bat I would try to pick you out of the crowd because you could always make me smile. Thanks for being a great teammate. And to my roommate Alexa, thanks for setting a standard for this team and being a great friend. You always leave it all on the field and I have not seen you slack once so keep up the good work. Gabby, the sacrifices you give to this team are unfathomable and I thank you for that. Molly Urban. Between nerding out about superheroes, playing softball, and venting about anything and everything you are truly one of my lifelong best friends. I’ll keep it short because you hate affection, but I’ll never forget my first hug after my grand slam from Molly Urban. “That's my ……… person.”
    
Sophomores: Allie, Abbey, Kali, Brit, Jordyn, and Stanzy:
Abbey and Kali, I feel like our close ties of Rochester and Fountain City make SMU softball all the better. So many memories and so many more to come. Allie ‘I’m Sexy’ Borawski keep up the good work, your humor and work ethic will get you far. Jordyn and Stanzy, it has been a blast playing with you in the outfield. With all of Jordyn’s great stories and trying to imitate Stanzy’s every move in the outfield it has always been fun. Thanks to all the sophomores for being awesome teammates.
    
Freshmen: Amber, Tessa, Mia, and MELISSA RAY CARLSON:
Thank you to my Walking Dead homie Amber for being there to discuss the tragedy of Glenn and the nail biting season finale. Also, you are always positive which is much needed with my high-pressure role on the team. Yeah-Yeah Mia your freshman year is over and I will never forget all the fun we’ve had with Haunted Forest and season in general! Tessa, thanks for all of the fun times, and you need to watch some Disney movies. Can’t wait to continue all of our crazy adventures! MELISSA RAY CARLSON I love you even though you played for Lourdes. If I wrote all the fun times that we have had together I’m pretty sure the salute would be longer than the entire Lord of the Rings Trilogy. So I’m just going to leave it as TERRYDACTYL!
    
Coaches:
Thank you to Miller, C-Bray, and Sam who have taught me how to become a better coach by example and many hands on lessons. I hope to take everything you have taught me and pass it on to my own players. A special thanks to Miller, C-Bray and Coach Halberg who decided to share me my first three years of college athletics. It was never a dull moment and I will never forget the opportunities that you gave me. And to Halberg who gave me my own senior match this year it meant the world to me and thanks for bringing me to Saint Mary’s as a slightly broken athlete and making me into the player I am today.