I was first introduced to softball when I was 6 years old. When I took the field for the first time as a Red Bird, my first in-house coach pitch team, I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. My former Pro teammate Monica Abbott always stresses that “life is made of moments”, and when reflecting back on my softball career from then to now, there have been a series of moments, or stepping stones, that have led me to where I am as a Professional Athlete today.
We all have to start somewhere, and for me it was on a rec softball field wearing a bright blue t-shirt with a Red Bird smack dab in the middle of it and a blue baseball cap. I played a few years of in-house coaches pitch before my dad made the decision that it was time for me to give Fastpitch a try. Stepping stone. I played five summer seasons through the Eagan, MN Fastpitch Association, and going into my second summer of 14u, I got a phone call from a club ball coach who was starting the second club program ever in Minnesota. Stepping Stone. I knew that I wanted to play in college someday at the DI level, and in order to do that and succeed, I knew I needed to put myself out there and play at the highest level possible in the summers.
Club ball was the answer. I played five summer seasons with the Minnesota Sting organization. About halfway through those seasons, Minnesota softball transitioned to winter ball and training with the establishment of indoor Sports Domes. It finally gave Minnesota Softball players the opportunity to play year round. Stepping Stone. By the time I reached 16u club softball and was starting high school ball as a freshman, Minnesota players had caught up to the talent level as some of the big name California kids and were being looked at by DI colleges. Stepping Stone.
I verbally committed to play college softball at The University of Minnesota my sophomore year of high school. Stepping Stone. After attending multiple years of winter and summer softball camps at Minnesota, I knew it was the right fit. I would highly recommend to anyone interested in playing college ball to attend the camps put on at the schools of interest. College Camps allow the aspiring recruits in attendance to get “thrown in” and are instructed by the coaches and players they will play for and with someday. It’s as real as it gets and a great experience.
I played college softball for the University of Minnesota from 2010-2014. Midway through my senior season at Minnesota, I was drafted fifth overall in the 2014 National Pro Fastpitch League draft by the Chicago Bandits. Stepping Stone. Only a small percentage of our sport reach the Pro Level and I am blessed and humbled that I have participated in three seasons. Over my past three seasons, the league has continued to evolve and grow with the addition of new teams, elite athletes, and a TV contract. Stepping Stone. More and more people are talking about Professional Softball and that is what excites me. All of the Pro softball players in our league have experienced stepping stones, and not all of us have taken the same route to get here. Everyone’s softball journeys are different but I wanted to share mine because it has been a pretty incredible ride so far.
Sara Moulton is a current Pitcher for the Chicago Bandits of the National Pro Fastpitch League.