WHAT IT TAKES TO PLAY AT THE NEXT LEVEL

One reason Elkmont High School softball is a perennial power is the number of Elkmont girls that play travel ball.  An extended season, large number of games and a high level of competition allows young athletes to fully develop their talent.  Regardless if it is sports, music or dance, it takes hours and years for people to be the best they can be.  These teams aren't about equal playing time, just having fun and nobody feeling bad; spring rec teams are for that.  Travel ball teams develop players to their fullest potential, winning is important and reaching the next level is the goal. Travel ball teams aren't for the faint of heart.  It is about winning and losing.  Some of Elkmont's finest are playing for some of these travel softball teams. These teams start young and the Sparks '03 is one of the 10 and under teams.  

As these girls get older, the game gets harder and the stakes are higher.

The Fusion is one of these teams. They recently were crowned the Tennessee State Champions








The best players at the high school level go through a bone-grinding sorting process.  If they want the exposure for college recruiting, they attend college camps and play almost all year round on one team or another.  These travel teams are not made of all local players or tri-county players but are made up of players from different states. Elkmont has one of these as well,  Brandi Bentley.  She is being looked at by several colleges and is making the college camp circuit.  Brandi is also playing on the Southern Force. It's a 16 and under team out of Illinois-Kentucky. The Southern Force has players from Illinois, Kentucky, Alabama and Tennessee.  Last weekend, they played in a national qualifier. Winning that tournament is sending them to Virginia to compete at nationals. This weekend, Brandi is playing in Kentucky at the state tournament.

Brandi has played so many games she isn't sure of the number but as she says, "We have seen a lot of college coaches and are playing against top competition."

It isn't for everyone but this is what it takes, regardless if it's softball or concert musician.  Extreme commitment by player and family, focused discipline and sacrifice toward the goal of being the best they can be.  There is no room to lose sight of that goal.  Family vacations are at the ball field.  A social life is put on hold. Many a talented athlete stumbles during the high school years as they

become distracted, quit working as hard and don't make the mark.   It takes a lot of work and a certain amount of luck as well as good genetics to make it to the next level. Next time you see a talented athlete who has succeeded, rejoice in what they have done, rather than grumble it isn't fair.  They earned it.