For as long as I can remember I have loved baseball. My dad used to take me to take me to fields so we could play.  One day I decided I wanted to play on a team.  I finally got the chance the summer before I started fifth grade.
   

My mom told me that they were going to have tryouts for the town team.  I was so excited.  My cousin played baseball so he helped me get ready for tryouts.  My uncle also came over to my house to help me practice.  They even gave me a couple of my cousin’s old gloves so I could play.  When I talked to my grandma about tryouts, she would ask “ Wouldn’t you rather play softball?”
 

 “ No, I’m  sure I want to play baseball,” I would reply. Other family members would ask me the same question.  I always had the same answer.  I was so eager to go to tryouts.  But before I could try out I had to get the rest of my equipment.  When we got in the store, I saw the bat I wanted.  It was a beautiful ebony Louisville Slugger. 

Shopping for equipment was like a dream had become a reality.  I might actually get the chance to play on a team.
My family continued to ask if playing baseball was what I wanted.  Now I know why the would ask me.  Playing softball was easier.  No other girls played baseball.  But I insisted.  I went to tryouts anyway.

“ Name please,” the woman behind the table said.
   

“ Rachel M.’
   

“ And are you trying out for softball?”
   

“ No. I’m trying out for baseball.” the lady looked a little confused.  The next sentence she had said I had heard about a million times.
   

“ Are you sure you want to try out for baseball?” I was sure. I had waited for what seemed like eternity for these try outs.  I had prepared myself as much as I possibly could have.
   

“ Yes. I’m positive.”  This was it. I finally made it.
 

 “ Ok. If you’re sure then you can go over to that dugout over there.” She was pointing to a dugout full of boys.  It finally hit me that I would most likely be the only girl trying out.  That made me a little nervous.  I hesitantly walked over to the dugout.  The boys saw me coming over and they were making faces at each other and whispering.  As I got closer I could hear what they were saying.
   

“Eeeewww look it’s a girl!” one of them said loud enough for me to hear. More of the boys started joining in and saying stuff to me.  The coaches were standing there and no one told the boys to stop.  I was not prepared for this kind of reaction.  I didn’t think it made a difference whether I was a girl or not. They way they were acting really threw me off.  I got really nervous and I didn’t want to play anymore.
 

 “ Mom do I have to try out?”  I really didn’t like the way they were treating me.  If I made it on to the team I would be constantly worrying about the boys making fun of me.
 

 “No you don’t. You could try out for softball instead.” I thought about it. Maybe softball would be better.  I wouldn’t have to worry about being judged by people.  I decided I was going to play softball.
   

This memory has haunted me for a while. I let them win. I could have stood up to them and tried out for baseball anyway.  I was young and didn’t know any better.  I finally understand why my family asked me if I was sure I wanted to play baseball.  They were trying to warn me.  This wasn’t necessarily a bad event. I learned a lot from it.  I know now that I would let other people’s words stop me from doing what I love.  I also learned that I love softball as much as I love baseball.