It was the championship softball game, and I was 13 years old—struggling with eliminating distractions as the crowd roared and the pressure mounted. The late July sun beat down on the infield as sweat dripped down my forehead. Our team was ahead by one point.
The Noise, the Pressure, and Eliminating Distractions
It was the final inning, bases were loaded, and the crowd was on their feet. We had played this challenging team earlier in the season and devastatingly lost by one point in overtime. It was our only loss of the season and they were undefeated going into this match.
“Pitch to the mitt!”, my coach yelled once again to the softball mound.
My heart began to pound in my ears as I placed both feet on that pitcher’s mound. At that moment, a warm breeze blew across the dirt, making it spiral past the batter. Naturally, I contemplated whether this would affect the ball release. Then, I glanced to the stands, where spectators were anxiously awaiting the next pitch.
The cheers coming from the opposing team dugout were irritatingly loud. As any former softball player knows, this is nothing new. In fact, I’m pretty sure the first softball players had dads who played baseball and cheerleader moms, because it’s a uniquely loud sport—one where cheerleading seems to be an absolute requirement in order to play.
A 13-Year-Old’s Lesson on Focus
I pitched the first ball slightly outside the home plate to test this batters ability.
“Ball one!” The umpire shouted loud enough to be heard through the noise.
The opposing team roared in excitement and the chant in the dugout grew louder.
“G. Double O. D. E.Y.E! Good eye – Good eye – Good eye!”
The catcher threw the ball back to me. She put two fingers down and tapped the inside of her leg indicating she wanted me to try a fast pitch on the inside of the plate. I nodded and placed the ball in my mitt. I positioned my fingers accordingly, did my wind up and released the ball. The batter just stood there while the ball flew right into the catcher’s glove.
“Stiiiiiiiiirike!” The umpire yelled as he put his arm in a 90 degree bend with his hand clenched in a fist.
The Pressure is On
Once again, the opposing team dugout erupted in a chant, suggesting that the batter meant to let that strike go by.
“You’ve seen it! Now hit it! Now go! Go and get it!”
The catcher threw the ball back to me. I took a deep breath in and slowly released the air in my lungs. I looked at the bases and at every opposing player standing on each of the three bases. The player standing on second base stared back at me and with a smile, she shouted, “This pitcher has nothing on you. You can hit off her!”
My 13-year-old blood began to boil.
I placed both feet on the pitcher’s mound once again, did my wind up and released the ball uncharacteristically late. The pressure got to me and the ball flew 15 feet in the air before hitting the backstop. All the runners came off their bases in the hopes of stealing home and winning the championship game.
Fortunately, the ball took a good bounce back towards the catcher. She stopped the runners from advancing and they immediately returned to their bases.
My coach was shaking his head with his hand near his forehead in disbelief. I knew my coach was saying something that I was glad I didn’t hear.
“Come on Noelle! You’ve got this!” I could hear someone yell from our stands. “Pitch a strike! Give her something to hit!”, yelled someone else.
I walked back to the pitcher’s mound and dug my right cleat into the dirt to get a good push off the mound. I was upset at myself for losing control of the ball and my emotions. The distractions were getting to me.
Regaining Control in the Chaos
“Pitch to the mitt” my coach said loudly, as he nodded his head. This time saying it in a way that showed he had confidence in my ability to do so.
“Two balls and one strike!” The umpire shouted as he raised two fingers on one hand and one finger on the other.
The catcher held two fingers down again, but this time she tapped the top of her leg. She wanted me to pitch a high fastball. I nodded my head.
Once my fingers were in position, I wound up the ball and released it right where I wanted it. The catcher raised her glove to catch it as the batter swung hard. The bat barely nicked the ball, sending it flying into the stands.
“Foul ball!” The umpire yelled.
A young boy excitedly grabbed the ball that was rolling down the sidewalk and threw it back onto the field.
Locked In and Letting Go
This was it. The next few moments of the game would determine the champions of the year. It had been an incredible season and our team had really come together. Our team was unique in that we relied on each of our strengths and had confidence in one another’s abilities. We had been the underdogs when the season began and pulled through when it really mattered most. Could we do it again?
The ball was back in my glove, and the game was back in motion. All three athletes on their bases were anxious to score and the batter was determined to help get them there.
The warm July breeze picked up again, and the dirt from the infield flew around us. I covered my eyes for a moment and waited for it to settle.
“One more pitch, Noelle!” My coach assured me. “Just pitch to the mitt!”
This time, I looked over to him. My dad had been my coach for years and I loved seeing him out there on the dirt with me. We had been through many highs and lows, and there was always comfort in knowing we were in this together.
The Backyard Practice That Prepared Me
Day after day, we would practice pitching in our backyard. He would get off his long shift at the steel mill each evening and immediately, before dinner, we would go throw together. Oftentimes, he would make me pitch 10 strikes in a row before we could go inside. If it was a wild pitch, we would have to start over. My poor mom spent many evenings reheating meals while the pitches were thrown in the backyard.
Looking back on this experience made me realize that dad never told me where NOT to put my focus, but instead, he taught me what to focus on to increase the chance for the best outcome. He didn’t say, “Don’t hit the batter” or “Don’t mess up”, but instead, he was teaching me to focus on the result I was hoping for. This also taught me the success that can come from eliminating distractions in sports and in life.
“Pitch to the mitt!” He said once again. Then, he motioned for me to pitch a changeup pitch.
This was my specialty and I grinned from ear to ear in approval.
Dad and I practiced a changeup pitch over and over in the backyard. My wind up would stay the same speed as my fastball, but I would hold onto the ball a second longer and slowly release it off my fingertips. This would cause the ball to float through the air, almost like a paper airplane heading to home plate.
I placed both feet on the pitcher’s mound and tucked the ball into my glove. My fingers were situated in a way that could release the ball slowly.
Eliminating Distractions in the Heat of the Moment
At that moment, I don’t remember hearing the crowd, seeing the dirt blow by or even recognizing that a batter was at the plate. I was free from distractions and intently focused on what I wanted to happen. Pitching to the mitt was the only thing on my mind.
I rocked back in my stance, pushed forward, wound up my arm, and released the ball.
The fans gasped.
The batter swung before the ball even got to the plate.
“Stiiiiiiiiirike three! That’s a ball game!!” The umpire yelled as he put his arm in a 90 degree bend with his hand clenched in a fist.
The cheers from the field and from our stands could be heard from miles away. My dad ran out onto the field and embraced me with the biggest smile I had ever seen.
The Power of Eliminating Distractions
In that final pitch, everything else fell away—noise, pressure, even doubt. I learned that eliminating distractions doesn’t mean blocking out the world, but rather tuning into what truly matters. Whether you’re on a softball field or facing a life challenge, success often comes down to focusing on the right target: your goal.
Quote to ponder
“Focus is the art of knowing what to ignore.” -James Clear
Question to consider
What is distracting you from achieving your goals or forming better habits? (Examples: Social media, staying up too late, imposter syndrome, comparisons, judging others, over scheduling, etc)
What is one thing you can do to improve your focus this week?