Maggie McDonald
Niagara University
I have been fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to play ASA softball from age 10 through 17. This is truly how my love of the game, some very special friendships, and my competitive spirit began. I have played in many ASA tournaments while playing summer travel ball with the following teams:
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12U Renegades (2001)
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14U Renegades Silver (2002-2004)
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16U Renegades Gold (2005)
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18U TC Tremors Gold (2006 – 2007)
I also played 2 – 3 nights during the week in the summer and Sunday doubleheaders in the fall in the ASA league at Gillette Road Middle School in Cicero, NY from 2000 through 2005.
In addition to playing ASA softball, I have also worked many ASA tournaments and clinics as follows:
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ASA summer tournaments & clinics at Gillette Road Middle School, Cicero, New York (2002 - 2005).
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ASA fall league at Gillette Road Middle School, Cicero, New York (2001 – 2006).
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ASA clinics at BAGSI and Binghamton Dome, Binghamton, New York (2006 & 2007).
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ASA tournaments at BAGSI, Binghamton, NY (2006 & 2007).
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NYS High School State Finals at Gillette Road Middle School, Cicero, New York (2005 & 2006)
Playing ASA softball has taught me to work and play hard not only for myself, but also for my teammates and coaches. I remember our very first ASA tournament win while playing 14U. I was so excited and thought it was probably no big deal to my coach until I saw he actually had tears in his eyes! It was also his first tournament win, and he was so proud of us. This coach had been coaching longer that I had probably been alive. To give him that gift made all the countless hours of practice suddenly worth every moment, and those moments got even better.
Facing so much great competition in ASA travel softball has helped me become part of not only one, but two New York State High School Championship teams and a number of ASA winning teams, including a National Qualifier. I believe playing ASA softball has made me into not only a better softball player, but all around person. It has taught me to respect my teammates, other competitors, coaches, and umpires. It has taught me to work hard, practice hard and to be humble, as there is always someone out there better than you.
Playing ASA travel ball has given me the opportunity to spend my summers visiting places with my family and friends that I otherwise might never have seen, such as: California, Colorado, Florida, North Carolina, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and of course, New York. My closest friendships have come from my ASA travel ball teams and some of them are with people I probably would never have met if not for travel ball. As a matter of fact, I never thought I would play on the same team with some of them, let alone become best friends! I know I have ASA softball to thank for all of my irreplaceable friendships and memories.
Playing ASA softball has not only made me more competitive in softball, but also in everyday life. It has taught me to set goals for myself and work hard to achieve them. It has given me the opportunity to be seen playing by college coaches and enabled me to follow my dream of playing softball in college. I’ve learned that I can succeed at anything I set my mind to as long as I work hard.
As I head off to college this fall where I will continue to play softball at Niagara University, I hope I continue to not only grow as an athlete and student, but as a person as well. I discovered how much I enjoyed working with kids while working the ASA tournaments and clinics, and I plan to major in Education. I would also like to continue my softball career through coaching when I’m done playing. I hope that someday I’ll be coaching a team that can learn as much from me as I did from my coaches and from playing in the ASA program. And when they win their first tournament, I am sure that I will have tears in my eyes too!
I would like to thank all of my coaches who have given up their time to help coach and teach all of their players about the game of softball. I would also like to thank the ASA Commissioners who put the ASA program together and allow all the girls to compete in their tournaments. Finally, I would like to thank all the volunteers for all the work they do behind the scenes and most of all my parents for all they have done over the years so I could play and become better at the game I love.
Honors and Awards:
Cicero North Syracuse High School Varsity softball member (2004 – 2007)
Class AA New York State Champions (2004 & 2006)
Morabito Tournament Champions (2004)
Scholar Athlete (2004 – 2007)
All League 1st Team (2006)
All League 2nd Team (2005 & 2007)
All League Honorable Mention (2004)
Section 3 All Star Team (2006 & 2007)
All CNY 2nd Team (2006 & 2007)
