Sophomore Cara Constant recalls picking up softball at age six, largely due to the influence of her sister, who is nine years her senior and had quit the sport around the time Constant was born. After playing recreational ball locally for two years and then transitioning to “semi” travel ball, she began playing for competitive travel teams when she was 11.

Constant normally plays outfield on her travel team, but, after joining the MVHS softball team last year, she began playing as a shortstop and pitches for the team — something she hadn’t done since she was 10.

“I stopped pitching because it was really stressful when I was younger, but what helped me get through this year and last year was that I was doing it for my team,” Constant said. “They needed me and they needed me more to pitch than play a different position, and I wanted us to be the most successful we could be.”

According to Constant, softball has become “a part of her” identity, but it has been “more about who [she] plays with instead of the sport itself.” Although frequent practices and tournaments often take away from her time for her social life, Constant also recalls meeting some of her best friends through softball. As a sophomore on her second year on the Varsity team, she looks forward to the upcoming seasons at MVHS.

“The high school season is more about fun and being part of a team,” Constant said. “Our team has bonded really well, and there’s no drama or anything, so I think that’s a really good thing. I hope that’ll keep happening as new girls come in, and I just hope we can keep getting better and keep working and [keep] having fun.”