A RUN FOR GLORY
Sophomore - Haleigh at Bat
A Life Changing Experience
By Haleigh Ashworth
Winning The Kentucky State Championship
June, 2003
The air was damp as it neared midnight. I was standing in right field. My feet were aching as I ran out onto the field for the last three outs. It was all happening so fast. The next thing I knew there were two outs and two strikes on the batter. One more strike and the Lady Aces would be Kentucky State Fastpitch Champions. I had dreamed of this my whole life and now it was about to happen. All of the sudden I didn't feel my aching feet anymore, I just felt the beating of my heart getting louder and louder. The crowd was going wild. Our pitcher stepped up to the mound to deliver the pitch. She started her windup and the pitch blew by the hitter as she swung and missed. --- "Strike three!" --- yelled the umpire, That's the ballgame."
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After that all I can remember is running to the middle of the field and jumping up and down with my teammates. Some of us were crying tears of joy, and others were just screaming. We had just earned the title Kentucky State Champions. It was an unbelievable feeling, and I hope I can hold on to it for the rest of my life.
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Only two days earlier we had arrived at Tie Breaker Park in Hopkinsville. We were scheduled to have practice that evening, but due to record breaking rains the fields were too muddy. Not only were we unable to practice but the opening games set for the next morning had been pushed back four hours.
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It was a hot, summer afternoon, the sun was beaming and it was hotter than it had been all year. Our first game against Hazard was finally underway. We were all a little nervous, but were able to beat them three to zero. Later that night we played Montgomery County and this time we were ready to play. With nerves gone and bats alive we beat them ten to zero. We returned to the park early the next morning to face North Laurel. This was a much anticipated game for two reasons. The first being, they beat us in the state championship game two years earlier and the second was a victory in this game would earn us a spot in the winner's bracket final. We defeated them by a margin of five to one.
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In our next game we were challenged by Louisville Mercy. During this game our team suffered an incredible loss. Our first baseman and senior co-captain fielded a throw from the third baseman and broke her finger. She was taken by ambulance to the local hospital. We ended up losing by one run, falling short in the last inning.
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Immediately after the painful loss, we played Greenwood High School. Our extreme sadness over losing was overtaken by our desire to win. Losing our teammate was tough, but we were able to beat them seven to two. At last we made it back for a rematch with Louisville Mercy. It was an emotional game for both teams. Our experience and tradition led us to a really close win over the Jaguars. We defeated them one to zero. That was an important win as it brought us to the final championship game. It was all tied up now. Both teams had one loss in the double elimination tournament.
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The whole season, all those months of hard work, came down to this game. We were one victory away from achieving our ultimate team goal, a state championship. The game was finally underway as the fog was beginning to settle in the outfield. This was our fifth game of the day. Although we were tired, we played our hearts out. Once again we were able to dig deep and find the inner strength to accomplish what we had come to do. We beat them six to two in a game that will forever be etched in my memory.
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Watching the Lady Aces as a little girl I dreamed of someday being a part of that team. I was able to be there in the stands when they won the state title in 1999. It was then that I knew I wanted to experience that feeling for myself.
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Winning the state championship was all that I had imagined plus more. When I was younger I believed winning a state championship was about earning a big trophy. Now I realize it is about so much more. It is about working hard to accomplish your dreams. It is not letting failure get you down. It is sacrificing your individual wants for the betterment of the team. Mostly it is allowing yourself to believe that you can do anything.
Written by Haleigh - October, 2003
Haleigh as a Junior - 2004 Season
In 2004 Owensboro Catholic High were RUNNER UP in The Kentucky State Tournament
Haleigh as a Senior, July 2005
Because of an injury to another player, Haleigh pitched 7 games in 2 days, allowing only one earned run to win The 2005 Kentucky State High School Fast Pitch Softball Tournament. Since graduating from High School, Haleigh is now attending Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro.
Haleigh at bats while playing at Kentucky Wesleyan College
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Haleigh and brother Eric on the same team
This page was created by Grandma Wedding as a tribute to Haleigh..The artical was written by her as an assignment for one of her classes..Haleigh has played ball since T-Ball which I think was age 7....Besides being an excellent athlete, she is a straight A student, most always tied for top honors in her class at Owensboro Catholic High. Needless to say, I am a proud Grandma.
Page by Grandma Wedding
October - 2005
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