ADA HARTGE

    I’ve always thought about what I would say if someone asked me why I play softball, but the truth is, I don’t really know how. Softball completely changed my life, and I cannot even begin to explain my love for the game. Softball runs through my mind all the time, and I want to push myself to the furthest I can go. It started back in the fall of 2021, my 6th grade year, and for some reason that I can’t even remember why, I wanted to try out for the school softball team. I decided this about one week before tryouts, and I had never played before or even stepped foot on a field. After 3 days of confusion and having a very long shot of making the team, I didn’t make it. For some random reason, I chose not to give up, but instead join a rec team where we lost every single game that season. Yet, I kept going and eventually I made the school team the next year, and that next summer tried out for a travel team named the Phoenix, but didn't make it. At this point, I enjoyed playing, but sometimes I wouldn’t go to practice or just want to do other things. That fall of 2023, I started playing on the travel team Black Widows, mostly sitting the bench and playing left field. It wasn’t until the summer of 2024 that I fell in love with the game. I don’t know what changed or how it happened, but softball means the world to me now. When I step foot on the field, my worries disappear; it’s just me and the ball. I constantly want to be on the field practicing, playing, or just hanging out. I know that I’m not the best player physically, and sometimes I feel like the worst, but I know that one day I will be the best. I might miss a play or strike out at the plate, but I work and work so that that won’t happen again. I am now the starting second baseman for our 16u travel team, starting shortstop for high school rec, and am on my high school varsity team as a freshman and have started in half of our games.. I won’t stop trying or working. I want to go beyond college and play or coach as my career. I know my life has to carry on through softball. It’s what I’m made to do. I will keep playing until God won’t let me anymore. 

 

Outside of Softball

I am currently on my journey to becoming a Christian. It’s been very tough and confusing, but I’m working out my faith and feel that I am growing closer. I luckily have friends and family to help me out, although it is still a rocky road. In school, I am in Beta Club, pickleball club, and band, where I play clarinet and have made all-county and all-district in 7th and 8th grade, but sadly could not audition for all-county and did not make all-district this year. Next year, my goal is to make not just all-district but all-state as well. I wanted to do environment club, but I didn’t know they even had that club until after it was established for the year. While in middle school, I was in robotics for 3 years, which we won the teamwork category my first year, second place overall, whilst having first place in the robotics category my second year, and second place overall my third year. I was also on the math elite team in sixth grade, which consisted of the top 6 (3 girls, 3 boys) in the grade, and we came in second place overall. It wasn't until eighth grade that we were allowed to do the team again, but it included all three grades, not just sixth, and we came in second again. I should add this in the softball part of this writing, but I wasn’t quite sure where to add it, because in 2024, (last year) I was apart of All-Stars All-American, and also the All-American Combine which I competed in the top 24 players game as well. Some hobbies of mine include guitar and horseback riding (which I haven't done in a while but am looking to start back up), fishing, cooking, painting, photography, flying, boating, traveling, and music. I one day hope to travel the world and go adventuring. I’m always open to trying new things and experiences. Even though I like a lot of things, I don’t know what I want to study in college. I know that might make you think, or I guess not think of me, but I love so many different things, softball being the most. I want my life to be about family, God, and softball. Though I don’t think there is a course for softball in school. I am just figuring things out as I go.

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