MICHAEL WARNER NAMED COMMISSIONER FOR
USA SOFTBALL OF NEW YORK CITY
MICHAEL WARNER
“I am excited for the opportunity to work as Commissioner while getting back to the basics and bringing back the grassroots program in New York City,” said Warner. “New York City is full of proud individuals who still love the great game of softball and I’m looking forward to meeting each and every one of them. Our journey here has just begun, and I cannot wait to see what the future holds.” READ MORE
THE 2022 GOLD NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS ARE COMING TO OKLAHOMA CITY!
The 2022 16-Under and 18-Under USA Softball GOLD National Championships will be held in Oklahoma City, Okla. at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex and Wild Horse Park. Taking place July 17-23, the two age divisions will kick off the tournament at both complexes before competing for the coveted GOLD National Championship title at the Softball Capital of the World®.
COAST-TO-COAST:
2022 USA SOFTBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
With over 80 USA Softball National Championships across the country, where will your team compete for a title?
Girls’ Class A Fast Pitch National Championships and GOLD National Championships:
-
10-Under East (Monroe, La.)
-
10-Under West (North Mankato, Minn.)
-
12-Under (Camarillo, Calif.)
-
14-Under (Evansville, Ind.)
-
16-Under (Polk County, Fla.)
-
16-Under GOLD (Oklahoma City, Okla.)
-
18-Under (Richmond, Va.)
-
18-Under GOLD (Oklahoma City, Okla.)
PLAYER
SPOTLIGHT
Aleigha Snider, 15
Lewis County, West Virginia
Diamond Dream 16U
Pitcher/Third Base
Her start: I started playing t-ball at the age of five years old. My sister was 10 at the time and was always practicing in our front yard. I was always hitting with her off the tee, playing passing games to get stronger, and always working out with her.
Her favorite thing about playing softball: My favorite thing about softball is meeting new people and creating bonds with my teammates and coaches.
Her goals: My biggest goal in softball is accepting failure in a sport that is 99% failure and 1% success. It can be difficult for any player to not be sensitive during a bad play or a bad game, but I want to see myself get better at the mental part and not get upset over such things.
Best experience: My best experience in softball was getting to participate in a huge tournament in Florida during the summer of 2021. I met so many different people and created many bonds with the coaches and girls I was playing with.
Proudest accomplishment: My proudest accomplishment is becoming the pitcher I am today. My whole life I always looked up to Jennie Finch and Rachel Garcia, and to this day they're still my role models in the game. For years I've worked and worked day by day on my pitching and I've gone from giving up in a game because of walks to pushing myself to fight every single game with many strikeouts – which has also helped me to grow in accepting failure.
Toughest obstacle: The toughest obstacle I've had to overcome in softball is mental stability. Softball is a mental game; you can't get hard on yourself and give up.
Role model in the game: My absolute biggest role model in the game is my big sister, Zoriah Henline, along with Jennie Finch and Rachel Garcia.
More from Aleigha: I want others to see that accepting failure can be good not only in softball but in other life situations. I want to encourage others to always work hard at what you do, have fun and keep making memories.
PLAYER
SPOTLIGHT
Zoriah Henline, 20
Lewis County, West Virginia
Head Coach of 12U
Gilmer County Crush
Her start: I started out in t-ball when I was five years old. When I was about 9 years old, my grandpa and I were fooling around, playing ball in the front yard, and he yelled “try throwing one underhand!” We were both surprisingly shocked that I threw it right to him aggressively. From that point on, the two of us spent countless hours in the front yard working on my pitching. From digging hole after hole, to screaming matches, to rainy days, to over 100-degree weather, to sacrifices, and to literal blood, sweat and tears, I got myself to where I finished in 2020.
Her favorite thing about playing softball: My favorite thing about softball is knowing that this sport made me who I am today. Without softball I guarantee I would not be as mentally strong as I am now.
Her goals: My goal in softball is to continue to teach younger girls my talents, my experiences and my love of softball.
Best experience: My best experience has been the countless hours of putting in the work that got me to where I finished. I cannot thank my coaches enough for putting in their personal time to make me a better player. I especially cannot thank my grandparents enough for always being by my side through every bad game, bad practice, taking me everywhere I needed to be, and sacrificing everything else to support my love of the game. Without their support, I never would have been the player I was, nor the coach I am today.
Toughest obstacle: The difference between treating softball as a sport rather than treating softball as a job was a huge eye-opener for me. As I got older, treating softball as a job made the weight on my shoulders just as heavy, and truthfully took the enjoyment out of the sport. Treating softball as a sport gives you more mental room to fail and want to get better. Because softball is a sport that is made of failure, it teaches you that it is absolutely perfect to fail and be okay with it. Growing through softball has taught me many lessons that can be applied outside of softball and play a big role in actual life itself.
Role model in the game: One of my role models is Lisa Fernandez because she put her all into everything she did. She really made the mental part of the game look so easy, and her accomplishments speak for themselves. My other role model would be Jennie Finch. Her clear state of mind during the games she pitched really helped me with my mental game as well.
More from Zoriah: I can relate to a lot of younger players, and I want my story to give them a chance to want to keep playing no matter how many bad games or practices they’ve had, because in the end, it all pays off.