Striving for Perfection by Traci Aschoff

I believe in the theory practice makes perfect. Anyone who has played a sport would have to agree. No one could make it to a big league without practicing. I am sure to some people certain sports may seem easy, but it is not as simple as it looks. Anyone could be good at a sport, but to be the best, one must have the determination and drive to practice, practice, practice.

I have played softball since I was a little girl. The first position I decided to try was an outfielder, because I was not the type who practiced everyday, and I just wanted to do something that was manageable and easy, but after two years, I had to change my position. I was pretty much forced into being a pitcher because the team that I was playing for had no pitchers for the next year. Being a ten year old, I figured I could just say that I was a pitcher and pitch like any other girl. Wow, what a reality check I had. I was so bad at this position, I could not hit a spot for the life of me, let alone ever make it to my dad's glove. I wanted to be awesome without having to do any work, but I realized practice was the key to success.

After many, many sessions with my father at the baseball field, I was still no Jennie Finch. I was not a star at this pitching thing, and I hated it more and more everyday. I thought I would never be able to pitch, but I just kept listening to my father saying, Traci, if you want to be the best, you have got to keep practicing. I am the type who never gives up, and once I start something I have to try and master it. My father convinced me to sign up for a camp that taught pitching at the University of Nebraska. Going to this camp really pushed me to become a better pitcher. I learned so much from this camp and applied it to all the practices my dad and I had. By the time I was twelve, we had just moved into our new house. Our basement was unfinished, at least forty-three feet long. My dad had the idea to pitch in the basement during the winter. Now I would be practicing during the summer and the winter. Ugh I hit light bulb after light bulb down there. My mom would freak out and wonder what was going on downstairs, but after a week or so, she realized it was just me. Pitching became a year round sport for me now, because I was practicing at least every other day the whole year.

By the age of fourteen, I became an average pitcher. Mechanically, I was pretty good, but all I could do was throw the ball down the middle. To my disappointment, I would never succeed pitching fast balls down the middle. I began practicing with a pitching coach. He taught me many new things that I never knew a pitcher could do. He taught me how to apply certain spins on a ball so that at the last second, the ball could move before the batter hit it. Learning these new pitches took forever to master. Now that I was pitching with him as well, I literally was practicing everyday.

I am currently nineteen, and I just finished my last season of softball not too long ago. I was awarded many honors this season based on my pitching ability. I never forget how much practice, time, and effort I had invested to become the athlete I am today. Although I have never mastered the sport, practice just keeps me inching toward perfection. I'm Traci Aschoff, and I am living proof that practice is the only route to perfection.