In the Eye of the Storm

Isabella Artiles

In the Eye of the Storm Second Place Winner: Prose

The tears welled up in my eyes as I stood with my team across the field from the new 2019 Class 4A Softball State Champions. Quietly, we received our Runner Up medals while muffled cries and sniffling were the only sounds on our side of the field. It seemed as if the whole field went silent, and all I could hear was my inner thoughts, reminding me that we had just lost the State Championship. Staring straight ahead, my heart was breaking while photographers walked onto the field and snapped pictures of our despair to share with everyone. As I started to pack up my gear, I could not get over the fact we had gotten so far, and only to fall short the very last game of the season. We worked so hard for this moment as a team since January, and it was May. We had lost. I could not wrap my mind around what just happened. I walked alone to my family’s car. I kept envisioning what we could have done as a team to change the outcome of the game, and my thoughts devoured me the whole, quiet car ride home. I never felt this defeated in my entire life. The next morning, the local newspaper splashed our tears across the sports page for all to share in our defeat and utter disappointment. The loss stung for almost a week, and I could not seem to get over it. But we each had a choice. We could either continue to stew in the pain, or we could take the hurt and use it to fuel a comeback! I decided I wanted the latter, so I chose to look back on our season and focus on how much fun we had, and how much closer we became throughout the spring. I remembered our long, hot practices after school and the sweat and tears that got us to where we were. Sure, we didn’t win. But we had worked unbelievably hard to make it to the Final Four. And then played our hearts out during the Semi-Final game to make it to the Championship. I also thought about our hilarious team dinners, and our trips out of town as a team. Although I chose to focus on the good, it still hurt to remember I had been part of a team that won the State title two years consecutively in 2017 and 2018. I wanted it so bad in 2019 that I could taste it. But that 3-Peat simply eluded us this year. We would have to take the time to work harder, get better and get focused for the next season. We started our new season in early 2020, with a handful of talented seniors to help get us the Final Four again. However, we faced a harsh reality and disappointment. Our season would be cut brutally short because of COVID. We played our very last game of the season on March 11, 2020. Our five seniors would have to walk away empty handed, missing out on even a chance to compete for the cherished championship. It was such a sad time again. We cried as a team and mourned what could have been. Although we had a chance to celebrate with each other in May, and say goodbye to our senior teammates, it felt like another defeat. Again, I had a decision. I could focus on what could have been, or I could look forward to what could be. I could work harder, stay focused