This is a huge deal for a number of reasons. However, as a (has been) female athlete, this is huge for not only girls everywhere but more importantly, softball players everywhere.
Twelve years ago, I was in my living room watching the USA Olympic softball team play for what I thought (and they thought) for the last time. The reason for the baseball/softball removal from the Olympics is because the "lack of global support". How sick to my stomach I was when I heard that I would no longer have any opportunity to even attempt to play on the Olympic team.*
*Please note that I know now that I never had an ounce of talent that these girls had but a girl can dream, right?*
From that moment on, it was no longer, "I want to be an Olympic softball player" but it was a, "Well, girls can't play baseball...so now what?"
The diminish of softball from the Olympics destroyed not only my dream but many other girls dreams as well.
BUT NOW - everything has changed. Little girls, big girls, college girls, and now, Katie Vernon, can again dream. I can now go to sleep dreaming that NOW I could be an Olympic softball player. It's no longer this thought of I can't ever do that anymore. It's no longer maybe someday. It's 2020.
WHAT A TIME TO BE ALIVE!
I would like to end this post with many thank yous to Jennie Finch, Lisa Fernandez, Crystal Bustos, Cat Osterman, Mike Candrea, Patrick Murphy, Jackie Traina, Sam Fischer, Molly Fintcher, Holly Rowe and to the many other players that have inspired young girls to keep playing because "someday" we would have the opportunity. That day is today. Thank you.
