From College Station to Stillwater: Sam Show’s Story of Betting on Herself
Betting on Yourself: Sam Show’s Journey Back to Loving the Game
In recent years, the phrase “Bet on Yourself” has grown in popularity. Some people use it casually, while others live it out with full conviction. In my conversation with Sam Show, it was clear that she truly embodies the meaning behind it.
The Breaking Point at Texas A&M
You only get so much time in your life to chase what you love, and you have to keep that in mind on your journey. For Sam Show, that moment came at Texas A&M.
“Junior year rolls around. Playing time goes down a lot. I’m not liking practice. I’m not liking being at the field. I’m not liking my life in College Station,” said Show.
The love for what she had always loved to do was slipping away. She stuck it out through the end of the season, but mostly watched as it came to a close.
“The last game I started, we hosted regionals in College Station. We’re the one seed at that place, facing Prairie View A&M. We run ruled them in five and that was my last start of the postseason,” she said.
Even after the Aggies made it to Super Regionals, nothing changed.
“I got to pinch hit in the next game. I hit a home run off Baylor. Super Regionals are in Gainesville against the Gators and I don’t start a game, pitching or hitting. I do get to pinch hit, and I’m actually hitting really good.
I vividly remember that last game. I’m in the dugout. We give up a walk-off home run. No tears, not even sad. And I’m just thinking, I don’t need to be here next year.”
That was it. Show was down to her last year, and even after conversations with the coach at the time, the writing was on the wall. So she bet on herself and decided to leave.
Betting on Herself
Some might say that entering the transfer portal is easy, since everybody does it now. Back then, the portal did not exist the way we know it today. Leaving meant truly betting on yourself, trusting your decision, and being ready to handle whatever came next.
Show knew she needed a place where she could find the joy again, and she did.
Finding a Home at Oklahoma State
Coach Kenny Gajewski and the culture at Oklahoma State was what Show had been searching for all along. Everything was different, and it turned out to be the right move. Betting on herself had worked.
“As soon as I got onto campus, I was like, this is where I’m going to be. I knew Oklahoma State was going to be my home.
I absolutely fell in love with the game all over again. Coach G called me a field rat because I was just always at the field and that’s me. I want to be at practice. I want to be grinding it out with my team.”
The most important thing happened. Sam Show rediscovered her love for the game. What she once dreaded at Texas A&M had become fun again.
And she was not just happy, she was productive. Show had a great 2019 season at Oklahoma State, proving that she still had that fire and could deliver as a two-way player, just as she had done her entire life.
She pitched to a 22-10 record with a 3.01 ERA, held opponents to a .225 batting average, and struck out 118 batters in 200.1 innings across 38 appearances. At the plate, she was just as dangerous, slashing .333/.431/.720 with 20 home runs, 12 doubles, 56 RBIs, and 41 runs scored in 62 games.
Her impact was not just in the box score. Show helped lead Oklahoma State all the way to the Women’s College World Series that season, the program’s first appearance in nearly a decade. Betting on herself brought her not only personal success but also the chance to be part of something historic.
The Lesson
There is more to Show’s story that you can hear on the Fastpitch Wire Softball Podcast episode, but this is the takeaway I wanted to highlight. Do not be afraid to bet on yourself. Do not let anyone spoil what you have worked so hard for or take away your happiness.
At the same time, make sure you have given it everything you possibly could. Do not give anyone the chance to say you did things halfway. And be careful who you take advice from along the way.
Sam Show did not just bet on herself. She reignited her love for softball, performed at a high level, and reminded us all what can happen when you trust your instincts and stay true to yourself.
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