Leave it all on the field...

 Most of my life, I have played sports. Whenever someone would as me what my favorite sport was, I wouldn't give an immediate answer. I juggled almost every sport; softball, volleyball {sand and indoor}, soccer, basketball, ultimate frisbee, and even track for 15 years and I don't think I would be the person I am today if it weren't for 'em. They say, sports build character. I like to think that if it weren't for my drive in athletics, I wouldn't be so interested in sports journalism. I also think, if I never played softball for six-seven years of my life, I wouldn't be the Yankee loving'-baseball fanatic I am today. :) {I always thought I was never fully into football because I never got to play it.}

 Earlier today, I took the time to go to some of the places I have played sports at. It was one last time I could "leave it on the field" before going to college in Arizona. I first went to Westcreek fields where I spent most of my middle school nights practicing soccer. I juggled, kicked long balls, and did my best reaction to scoring a PK. {Tim Howard, you got nothin' on me! HAH, just kidding, yeah right!}

Getting closer to 290 meant I was getting closer to Clint Small middle school. I did not attend Small, but I sure did go there a ton. My middle school, Bailey, was rivals with the Cougars and we would battle against them in all four sports. It was a huge deal. Other than middle school, I had played club basketball and volleyball in its gym. I always felt like I was betraying my fellow Bears because I'd get home from school, have a snack, go off to practice or a game at the rival gym. {Call me a Benedict Arnold if you must...}

These stairs were always hell after a tough practice! 

FUN FACT: I climbed these stairs with a sprained ankle and it felt more like hell. :D 

To the left of the stairway from hell, is Small's track. I didn't run track much {I basically just shot, discused, and left}, but the track will always always be home of one of my proud accomplishments. It was raining the night of a soccer practice. What does that mean? Fitness. No cleats, no speed soccer the last ten minutes of practice, no fun basically is what it meant. "Run a mile in under eight minutes and you can leave; run it in over eight, run again," my coach said to us. So, I did what basically what Forrest {Gump} had done. Run. Four girls were ahead of me the entire time and I just shrugged it off.  They were pretty much done and all I had to focus was me getting done. My fourth and final lap came to me lapping a good eleven girls on my team. My time? 7 minutes 22 seconds. I still ask myself how I've done it after not coming close to it ever again. I even ran a mile there today and was drenched in my own sweat afterward. Never. Again. ESPECIALLY because I was wearing a dark green shirt. {In case you're wondering the time, 9 minutes 52 seconds...}

My third and final stop was to the Oak Hill baseball/softball fields. I think out of all the sports I have played, I was at these fields the most. From watching my brother to playing myself, I was never not at these fields. Softball was a huge part of my life and it was super sad to leave it behind seven {wow} years ago. I didn't start off at Oak Hill, though. I first played t-ball with the boys {that makes me sound super hip, doesn't it?} and one year of coach pitch at Manchaca before it got remodeled into where it is today. At Oak Hill, I grew to love the sport. I weaved between rec and select throughout the years, but did All-Stars was my favorite time of all. I don't think I had a true non-softball/brother non-playing baseball summer until 2010. I don't know where to begin describing how much love I had for this sport, but I am so glad I had the chance to play. 

I opted not to play school sports for a couple of reasons starting the beginning of my sophomore year; I quit playing club and select sports the second semester of my junior year. Do I regret it? Not entirely, but there were times I wish I kept playing. I am super excited to carry on my love of sports to the University of Arizona. There, I will play intramural volleyball and soccer and hopefully catch on to a couple of new {and maybe some old} ones, too. :)