History

The Pitching Pirate's History

The Pitching Pirate 

I have been obsessed with softball all my life. I began playing at the age of 5, started pitching at 8, and have been playing competitively ever since. I moved from St. Louis, MO when I was 12 and began playing Varsity Softball as the starting pitcher at Skaneateles (pitched every single game except 1 when I was sick in 7th grade and my sister pitched) in 7th grade through 10th grade. After 10th grade I transferred to CNS High School where we won STATES my junior year and had a very successful senior season. During my 6 years on Varsity I had about 13 no-hitters with 4 PERFECT GAMES! This does not include what I did during my summer games!


I was given a FULL-SCHOLARSHIP to play softball as a PIRATE and Seton Hall University in the Big East. 

I began my college career successfully in the start of my freshman season. With big wins versus the Gators, Florida Atlantic, and other big name schools and winning MVP. However, after breaking my hand in a tournament at Hofstra I continued playing. The next game I pitched in was the worst game of my entire life and the first game my parents didn't attend. I had no idea what happened or why it had happened because I had been pitching very well and it was a complete turn around. I took the game personally and let it haunt me from game to game. When in the middle of the season I was doing much better; but we found out that my glove hand was not lifting normally because of my broken left hand which had caused me not to throw as well as I had been.




As my hand healed I began pitching like I had been, but the memories still haunted me. I came back my sophomore season and pitched the majority of the games. I had a successful year going to the Big East Championships, but lost in the first round to De Paul. My junior year was not a great year, but my SENIOR year I turned around and had a VERY successful season; however, I still could have done so much more if I had been mentally tougher. That is the #1 thing that kept me from winning many games and finding the success that I had all the ability of having!




It brought me great things and to great places! I was given the honor of traveling around the country playing the game that I love. Unfortunatley, being a perfectionist, I let the mental part of it get the best of me and I could have had a more successful career in college. That is why I now teach pitching lessons with the inclusion of mental toughness activities because I want to teach the girls that I work with what I learned and help them beat the mental demons! Mental toughness is key in your success!

I pitched the BEST game of my life during my final game in a PIRATE UNIFORM (#11) at the Big East Championships against De Paul. I was on fire. Everything I was doing was just effortless. I was the pitcher that I could have been my whole career. That is why I am writing this story about myself. I had all of the keys to open HUGE doors, but I did not use them until my last game. I ended up losing my final game 1-0 and we had left 7-8 runners stranded. The other team only had 1-2 hits off me that never left the infield, but I had finally found that confidence that I had been striving for my whole career.




Yes I found it, but I found it a little too late for myself. I just want to find that confidence and give my players/pitchers all of the skills that they can use to be THEIR best before it's TOO late!!!




NEVER FEAR FAILURE...IN THE GAME OF SOFTBALL YOU FAIL MORE THAN YOU SUCCEED. IT'S HOW YOU LEARN FROM THESE FAILURES!

Senior Day 2009

My Mom, Dad, Grandfather (Papa Schweitzer), Sister (Christie), and Brother-in-law were my biggest fans! I couldn't have done it without their love and support through it all! They are the best and I am so thankful to have had them through all of the ups and downs!!!!