Kate Larney is a 14-year-old high schooler who loves the game of softball. 

When asked about what the sport means to her, she tells us, “Softball is a sport to me,” Larney said. “I really like the social interaction it brings me. I met a lot of good friends and people that I’ll be friends with for a long time to come. And, it’s more of an escape from reality, like I can get away from schoolwork or anything that’s going on outside my life, like family and whatnot. And so I can just like focus on the sport, I love and play with friends.” 

Kate has been playing softball for many years. She talks about her early experiences in the game.

“I got into softball because my parents played it when they were younger,” she said.  “And so they really wanted me to be active like they said it would to like, keep me out of trouble. They said, if I didn’t keep busy, I would probably get into like, bad stuff. And my first game experience was in little league. I don’t really remember much, but I did play first base.”

For many athletes, the COVID-19 pandemic has prevented them from playing the sport they love. In an interview, Kate tells us how the pandemic has impacted her and her sport. 

“With the covid break, I couldn’t play for like two months,” she recalled. “And I was really sad because I realized I missed it and how much I wanted to play. Not just like my parents forcing me to play, but like how much I missed it as an individual and how much I wanted to get back out there.”

While it may be a while before she can play again, she loves to speak about her experiences in the sport.

“When I’m playing softball, everything kind of just fades away,” she said. “And I’m really in tune with the sport. But before I play, I’m like, I’m super nervous, just in case like I mess up or something.”

Especially in Arizona, outdoor practices can get hot. And many athletes have chosen to take a break from their sport due to the pandemic. Kate has continued to play and tells us what keeps her motivated. 

“Really just the drive to get better, like once you succeed in one point in softball, like making a diving catch, and you just want to do it over and over again. That’s what keeps me going,” she said.