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Inside Pitch: 2022 Extra Elite 100 Pitcher Madison Knight…  “I Was Cut from My First Club Team Tryout at 10U!”

Madison Knight was a promising rec ball player and felt good about her first travel ball tryout at 10U… but things didn’t go as she hoped.

Today, Madison Knight, who goes by the nickname “Mayday,” is a sophomore playing for Joe Spina’s talented PA Chaos 18U team and was recently honored as a Top 20 player in the 2022 Extra Elite 100.

The 5-foot-11 standout, who attends Patterson Mill (Bel Air, Maryland) High, is one of the top two-way players in the country as she throws in the mid-60’s in the circle is a dangerous power-hitter at the plate.

But it hasn’t always been smooth sailing for Madison, who recounts in today’s Inside Pitch of a time when things didn’t go as planned at her very first travel ball tryout… and the decision she faced on how to handle adversity and disappointment.

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Spring means tryouts for a lot of first-time softball players.  During these times, your emotions can be filled with excitement, nervousness and in some cases disappointment.

The young “Mayday” had success at the rec level and decided at age 8 to try out for a 10U team.

That was true when I tried out for my first travel team.

I played rec softball for my first two seasons and after my second season I decided to try out for the local 10U travel team.  I thought I did well, and I was confident with my tryout.  At the end of the last tryout, the coach said that out of the 20 girls that tried out, 13 would make the team.

I thought I had a good chance!

The next few days seemed to take forever.  However, on the third day, right around my bedtime, I heard the phone ring. I heard my dad talking “softball,” so I knew this was the call I was waiting for. When the call was over, my dad walked into my bedroom.

My heart was racing, and I couldn’t wait to hear the news. He opened the door and I still remember the expression on his face. As he approached my bed, he told me all the good things the coach said I did at the try-out.  I had a big smile on my face.

Then the conversation didn’t go the way I thought it would. “Mayday,” he said in a disappointed voice, “you didn’t make the team.”

I couldn’t believe it. I was shocked. I really thought I did well.

So many emotions were rushing through my mind.  To be honest I don’t even remember the next few sentences he said.  All I remember is at that moment I had to decide if I should feel sorry for myself or find the determination to get better.

As my father kept talking to me and trying to make me feel better, I interrupted him and with tears in my eyes I asked him if we could go to the field the next day to practice. With tears in his eyes, he replied, “Absolutely!”

At that moment I decided this was an emotion I never wanted to feel again.

Before long, Mayday was pitching at national events including USSSA tournaments.

Over the next few months, we were at the field approximately five-to-six days a week for about two hours. We worked on everything from pitching, fielding, and hitting.  He even taught me how to think quick on my feet.

On the way home from the field he would always quiz me on situations as to where I should make the play or what pitch to throw in a certain count.  As I would answer his questions, he would let me know if I made the correct decision or not.

If I made the wrong decision, he would tell me where the play should have been made or what base I should have covered or what bag I should have backed up.  I played many intense games in my head even before I played one competitive travel game!

Looking back, I am extremely thankful for not making my first travel team. That disappointment led to the drive, desire, and passion I have for this game.

The following year, I made my first travel team. I felt such a sense of accomplishment, but still had the drive to get better!

I tried out for the USSSA All-American Northeast team (FL) and made it as a Direct Select in my 10, 11 and 12U years. I was also invited to two years of Faster2First (SC, NJ). I even made the 12U inaugural season of the USA All-American Team in (OK).

Those experiences led me to where I am now.

Today, Madison is a successful pitcher/shortstop prospect playing for the PA Chaos 18U team.

During my second and third year playing in Florida, Coach Eric Thrush’s daughter Catelyn Thrush also made the team.  During the time we played together he recognized my talent.  He invited me to try out for his 14U PA Chaos Team. This brought together a lot of my All-American teammates over the past three seasons.

We had two great 14U seasons, traveling across the country.  Our record during those two years was 116-48.  There were many memorable wins and loses throughout those two years that helped shape me into the player that I am today.  I was truly blessed to be on a team with such great coaches and teammates!

This past fall I tried out and made Coach Joe Spina’s 18U Gold team. I am super excited to see how the next few seasons will play out. Coach Joe is a great coach and he has high expectations for us.   At every practice and during every game he pushes each one of us to get better.  His guidance, support, and knowledge of the game is a true blessing.

As I think about all the girls that have made–or not made–their travel teams, I cannot help but think that at some point they will have to make some of the same decisions I made early in my softball career.

They can either blame others for why they aren’t starting, or why they have not made teams, or they can do what it takes to make themselves better.

I am just thankful that little eight-year-old girl chose to make herself better rather than blame others because I really am enjoying the path I am on now!

Go Chaos!

Madison “Mayday” Knight

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