Emily McDonald ’28 has been playing softball for as long as she can remember.
It started when she was young. Just another sport to try. But over time, it became something more. Something constant.
Now a sophomore at Stevenson High School, McDonald has turned that early passion into a defining part of who she is.
Softball has always been her main sport. For the past five years, she has played travel softball, committing to the long practices, weekend tournaments and year-round training that come with it. The deeper she got into the game, the more her interest grew.
Basketball came along, too… A second sport she enjoys playing with friends. She has competed at both Stevenson and Davis Junior High School, along with time in recreational leagues.
But softball has always come first.
That focus paid off her freshman year.
McDonald entered high school eager, and a little uncertain, as she stepped onto the field for tryouts. By the end of it, she had earned a spot on the varsity team as a freshman.
She didn’t just make the team. She made an impact.
As a starting pitcher and first baseman, McDonald helped lead her team throughout the season. By the end, she earned MVP. A moment that reflected years of work behind the scenes.
Her family and friends were there to celebrate, proud of what she had accomplished in a sport she has dedicated so much time to.
Now, she’s looking ahead.
“I’m excited for the season to start again,” she said, eager to return to the mound.
That anticipation is matched by preparation. Offseason workouts, practices and training sessions fill her schedule as she gets ready for another year.
Along the way, her team has grown closer, building chemistry not just through games, but through time spent together off the field.
There are small details that make her game her own. McDonald throws four different pitches. At the plate, she bats left-handed, but on the mound, she pitches right-handed.
It’s a combination that reflects her versatility and dedication.
For McDonald, softball isn’t just something she plays.
It’s something she’s built, season by season, pitch by pitch, and something she’s not finished with yet.
