Ashli Venokur '16 Recruiting Profile

Softball has always been a huge part of my life. I started my softball career playing T-Ball at a young age and I have not looked back since.  Over the years I have been on different teams, and with each team, the level of play has increased.  I thoroughly like when there is another player on the team that shares the same positions that I play.  It forces me to never sit idel, and always strive to the best.  As on of my first coaches told me many years ago, it's your position to lose.  I have never forgotten that statement, as it can be applied to anything I do in life.  At fifteen, I am the youngest player on my 18u Gold travel team.  Some people may have thought that I was too young to move up to 18u Gold, but the transition went smoothly. Playing teams from all over the United States, has only added fuel to my desire to play D1 Softball.

In order to reach that goal, I realized early that I was going to have to give up some "fun time".  The difference between a good athlete and a great athlete is commitment.  If I want to be able to compete with the best, I have to be the best at what I do.  When I am on the field, hopefully contributing to my team's success, I realized I would not have done so, if it were not for the time and commitment.  I dedicate my time to making myself a better softball athlete. Though my goal is to play softball in college, I realize that I also have to a have a career after softball.

I believe what I have learned on the field, I can utilize off the field in my everyday life.  As of now, it is hard to determine what field of studies I want to go in to.  However, there are two fields of study that interest me.  One is Forensic Sciences, and the other, Special Education.  No matter what field of study I choose, I realize that more than likely I will be part of some type of team.  Special education garners my interest because I enjoy working with special needs, autistic children.  Though I am in high school now, I still volunteer my time with the middle school and their Buddy Sports program, helping disabled or challenged children.

I am not sure where I would be today without softball.  Besides the competition, there is also one area that is most overlooked, family time.  My family has given up so much of their time to take me to practices, games, etc, but they are always there for me.  An athlete needs the support of their family to truly succeed.