These girls spend their summer days in 100 degree weather, scorching in the sun for a team that means a lot to them, but for what? Not a lot of recognition or for the score. For the team.

Junior Asacia Edwards has been playing softball for about eleven years. She has played sixteen seasons counting fall ball and tournament and has been on four teams since she started high school. Asacia pitches for JV and is currently the starting varsity shortstop.

“Play for the name of the front of your shirt, not for the name on the back. Meaning play not only for yourself but for your team,” Softball has always been apart of her life and she also played at North Des Moines as a child.

“Softball is very important to me because I’ve always played it. It’s a great way to see the changes I’ve made as a player and a person, it’s also great to see the friends I’ve made through all the different programs I’ve been in.” said Edwards. She spends at least six or seven hours on softball a week.

Junior Cassie Harrington has been playing softball for 11 years, 20 seasons and has played on 10 different teams. She is a starter at North and plays third base.

“Life will always throw you curves, just keep fouling them off…the right pitch will come, but when it does, be prepared to run the bases,” Harrington said

She likes softball because she’s a very competitive person and a team player. It has taught her a lot including things she can use after high school in the real world, such as being responsible mentally and physically.

“I like doing what I love while being surrounded by the people I love,” says Cassie.

Grace Jones is a sophomore and plays JV and varsity. She has played softball for sixteen seasons, eight teams and twelve years strong. Her main positions are pitcher, third base, center field and possibly catching JV this coming season. Jones currently plays for both North and a tournament team called Iowa Ice.

“You can always take a bad hop and make it into a great play. Meaning I can take any situation in a game or in life good or bad into something good.” Jones said. She grew up playing at North Des Moines and stopped to play spring and normal season ball at North. During the summer she usually spends everyday playing or practicing this sport.

When Jones was only four she was stung by a bee while standing at second base crying hysterically for about five hours. That’s the first memory she has of the sport that has surrounded her entire life.

These girls put so much of their time and all of their effort into these seven innings. This one sport has changed them as a whole. Their grades are good and they have such a connection to this one thing. Endless nights of bus rides, crazy tan lines, endless friendships, dehydration and being able to be part of something so great. Not just a team, a family.