Senior Lexie Martinez has recently taken a pitch to play softball for San Francisco State University.
SFSU is a public California state university that competes at the Division II NCAA athletics level. Martinez is planning to major in criminal justice, in addition to playing softball. Martinez committed to SFSU last November, after evaluating four other college offers, including the University of Hawaii at Hilo, Cal State Dominguez Hills, Akron University and SFSU.
“I chose SFSU because it reminded me of home and I loved the coaches,” Martinez said via Instagram. “I also loved the environment and felt I would be successful at SFSU.”
Martinez’s journey with softball began when she started playing in elementary school. As a member of a club softball team, Martinez was exposed to the sport at an earlier age than some of her competitors. By the age of thirteen, she decided that she wanted to play at the collegiate level. Martinez said that this goal kept her motivated and competitive about the sport.
“Lexie has been and still is one of the hardest workers I’ve ever coached,” DBHS varsity softball coach Kurt Davies said via email. “I emphasize that she still is, because I’ve seen a ton of athletes through the years that have eased up on the workload once they’ve committed.”
She currently plays with a travel ball team called California Thunder- LeVier Vankirk, in addition to playing for Diamond Bar High School girls varsity softball team.
Over the years, Martinez has racked up many awards, and was named one of the best pitchers in the CIF Southern Section.
One of her favorite aspects about the game of softball is being able to play with her friends and the competition which she says sustained her interest in the sport. Softball has also impacted her life in other ways.
“I feel softball has [given] me confidence and provided me with a stronger mentality,” Martinez said via Instagram. “I also always have my teams back and am a leader.”
Martinez attributes her success to her consistent work ethic. She said that she works out everyday and has completely dedicated herself to the sport, both physically and mentally. In addition, she said that she believes that the leadership skills she gained through softball will help her succeed in college and beyond.
On top of the life-long skills she has learned, her nine years of competitive softball experience provide her with a vast amount of knowledge regarding the sport. Playing on a club team as well as on the school varsity team has provided Martinez with an unparalleled level of experience.
“I couldn’t be happier or more proud for Lexie, her family, her travel coaches and my coaches here for creating the perfect village in order for her to thrive,” Davies said via email.
Overall, Martinez said that playing softball has been a positive experience for her, and recommends that children who want to pursue a college softball career should work hard and stay positive despite setbacks.
“Some advice I would give is to stay motivated and always be passionate in softball because that will help you succeed in this sport,” Martinez said via Instagram.