Inside the motivation, balance, joy, and support that keep softball athletes committed to the game every day
There’s Always More of a Reason
Every time I talk with an athlete, I try to look past the obvious things. Everybody sees the swing, the speed, the arm strength, the rankings, and the numbers. That part is easy to talk about. More of what matters to me is what keeps them coming back through the ups and downs, the long weekends, the practices, and the expectations. What I have learned is that most players do not play for complicated reasons. It is personal, and it is tied to who they are and what the game gives them when the cameras are off.
Kennedy Walker said something to me recently that was so simple and honest. “I have fun, and that is what motivates me. When you enjoy the game, you want to keep showing up.” She did not try to think of some extraordinary and impressive answer. It was just an honest answer from a kid who understands the game better than she realizes.
Fun sometimes is overlooked in today’s softball world with recruiting pressure, social media, and everyone chasing rankings. Hearing a player her age bring it back to fun reminds you what started this for so many of them.
Kennedy also talked to me about how softball is part of her everyday life. Practice, games, training, lessons, and reaching out to programs she is interested in. She talked about the grind, but she talked just as much about balance. Going to football games at school, being around friends, and taking in the experiences on travel weekends that have nothing to do with wins and losses.
She said she wants to remember everything outside the lines too, and that matters just as much as the on field part. That kind of awareness shows a maturity that not every athlete has at her age.
Another example came from Coach McKenzie Onyango at North Texas, who has carried that same message into her coaching career. Even as a player she leaned on joy, and she brings that same energy to her team now. When we spoke a couple of months ago, she made it clear how important that is to her. She told me, “My girls have heard me say it before, if you’re not having fun, then why are you doing it?
I think that’s something that I’ve carried with me even when I played softball. If I’m not having fun, then why am I doing it? I want our girls and my pitching staff to have fun.”
Hearing that from a coach who played at a high level only reinforces how important fun still is in the middle of competition and development. It is a reminder that joy is not just for younger players. It matters at every stage.
Family is a huge part of these conversations, and nobody captured that better than Daniella Neve. When I asked her about the support she receives, she said, “My family support is so amazing. They simply match my energy for this sport.” You could feel the appreciation in her words. For her, and for a lot of these athletes, the reason they push themselves the way they do is because someone at home believes in them just as much as they believe in themselves.
There is also the competitive side that comes out in every interview. These players want to win. They want to grow. They want to challenge themselves. They look up to teammates, chase opportunities, and try to leave their mark. High school players dream of playing in college. Most want to represent where they are from in the best way possible. All want to be better than they were yesterday.
That fire is why they keep grinding through long days and long seasons. You can hear it every time they talk about their goals. I am willing to bet that no one is making them do it, at least the ones I have talked to. A supportive parent or coach would understand if they just did not feel that this journey is for them, but these kids want it more than anyone.
What I keep coming back to is this. When you spend enough time listening to these athletes, you start to understand what softball really means to them. It gives them joy. It gives them confidence. It gives them purpose. It gives them friendships and memories that will stick long after their last game.
The reasons they play might be simple, but they are as real as it gets. When you hear their stories, you understand the game a little better too. It really isn’t as difficult as we sometimes make it out to be. After all, it is a game.
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