Photos courtesy of Bernadette Barclay.
Every day, Tanner Robertson, a senior at St. Margaret’s School in Tappahannock, suits up, ties her long hair back, smears eye black above her cheeks, and practices or plays softball. It’s her passion, and she has been playing softball since she was five years old.
Robertson plays shortstop with the St. Margaret’s Scotties and balances a demanding academic load to achieve her dream of playing college ball.
In November 2018, Robertson signed a letter of intent to play Division I softball with the Lancers at Longwood University and compete in the Big South Conference.
It’s her dream come true, and Robertson describes her love for the game as “Irreplaceable,” saying, “There’s nothing I would rather do.”
Since she also plays travel ball with Richmond Storm, nearly every weekend she travels long hours to play club teams and tournaments across the South. She plays during her summers, on holidays, and occasions when other girls are at the prom, out with friends and dating, or working nights and weekends.
“It’s a life,” says St. Margaret’s softball coach Rob Pierce, who has seen Tanner and other girls he coaches create exciting careers for themselves playing softball. “Girls who succeed exhibit heart and passion for the game.” And, a lot of them start early. “Some girls pick up the ball before they can walk,” says Pierce.
Elizabeth “Biz” McCarthy admires Robertson for her drive and love of the game. “When it’s softball time, that’s it,” says McCarthy. She says Robertson “doesn’t let up.”
McCarthy knows this level of intensity and commitment well. She started playing as soon as she could pick up a ball. At four years old, she was in Little League and then played travel ball for nearly nine years, including through high school.
McCarthy played four years for St. Margaret’s as a pitcher and first baseman and went on to play for Longwood University, where she is considered one of the best pitchers to ever wear the Lancer uniform and one of the best pitchers ever seen in the Big South Conference.
The determination and teamwork McCarthy showed on the field inspired Rebecca Kelley to attend St. Margaret’s as a junior, where she knew the team had a great reputation. Though she was an experienced player, she says she struggled with balancing academics and athletics.
“It was really tough at first,” she says. She had to learn to better organize her time, develop study skills, and commit to hard work in the classroom. “Softball gave me the work ethic and the positive attitude,” she says.
Kelley had a “great support system” at school and at home, something she also credits for her success. Her family kept a demanding schedule, helping Kelley practice and compete with the Scotties and in travel ball, sometimes driving two hours one way to make a practice in addition to trips for games and tournaments across the South.
“It’s a great way to be seen by colleges, and it really pays off,” says Kelley, who is currently a sophomore playing with the Golden Eagles at Clarion University in Pennsylvania.
“There are lessons they learn on the field about teamwork and resilience,” says St. Margaret’s Director of Athletics, Cynthia Walker. “They build character and learn positive life skills that are so important to a solid foundation for life. And the grit they develop carries them through into a successful career.”
“Softball is known in sports as the game of failures. Everything is measured by how you don’t succeed. It’s one of the toughest sports, mentally,” says Heather Chastain.
Chastain learned those lessons well and carried them with her through Little League and travel ball competition, plus four years playing as a catcher at St. Margaret’s, and through a successful Division I college career at Western Carolina University in North Carolina where she graduated cum laude.
Chastain admits it was tough once she stopped playing competitively and says at first she “didn’t know what to do.” She soon realized she needed to change her mindset and credits softball for “preparing you for anything.”
She joined Fellowship of Christian Athletes, put her faith to work, ministered to youth, and found her passion working with kids. Today Chastain teaches eighth-grade math, is working on a master’s degree, and coaches two middle school softball teams.
“The future I have with softball is my motivation,” says Autumn Courtney, a freshman Scottie pitcher. Her sight already set on playing college ball, Courtney psyches herself up for practice or competitive play nearly every day. Waiting for practice to start, she taps on her cell phone playlist and cranks up the volume on Thunderstruck by AC/DC. Pumped up by playtime, she focuses on a positive outcome and strides calmly out on the field, her long blond braid tossing in the breeze. Another young girl with grace and grit, determined to make her dreams come true.