Mia Galella is a longtime blogger for Extra Inning Softball and is one of the top 2025’s in the nation. She’s a first baseman for the Virginia Glory 18U team coached by Suzy Willemmssen and shares her feeling in this post about how much she loves her team including the seniors she’ll not get to play with in club ball any more…
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My Virginia Glory – Willemssen 18U national team is a team I will never forget.
The experience at the Alliance Fastpitch Championship Series in Chino Hills, Calif. was our last event as a team and was so emotional, for more reasons than one.
With a total of 96 teams within three tiers, we were pre-seeded 20th of the top 32 teams.
I couldn’t wait to get started but, since I was not fully healed from my broken thumb, I knew I’d be playing a limited amount of time and getting some hitting opportunities.
I was so anxious to get my first opportunity in this event and it came in the first game. I was being pitched around and the count went to 3-0. I was on “go” with anything close and the next pitch was sweet. I took it way over for a two-run home run.
Then the unthinkable happened in my next game.
On the very first pitch of my very first at-bat, the pitch hit the exact spot on my broken thumb. I was wearing a protective splint, but the pain became unbearable which ended up shutting me down for the remainder of the national event.
My team played amazing and tied for a 9th place finish in Tier 1. We competed against some very good teams. It was close to 100 degrees every day we played, and my team battled… I’m so proud of them!
At the end, it was so emotional since it was the last of my senior sisters travel ball who are all moving on to do amazing things at the D1 level. They were always there for me with support and love as well as the rest of the team.
This is one of the main reasons I’d never want to be anywhere else other than with Virginia Glory. All these girls truly care for one another, we play for one another.
The love that comes from Coach Suzy (Willemssen) and Coach Kevin (Bednoski) to their entire team is something I’ve never experienced before and I believe that is why the culture which exists with this team is what makes this experience so amazing while competing at the highest levels of travel softball.
When I wrote this, I was flying back home and all I keep thinking about is how much of an impact our seniors made on my life and not just the softball side of things.
From hanging out in the lobby of hotels and teaching me about what it’s like when September 1st comes around to goofing off playing Photo Roulette and spike ball. I couldn’t be more thankful to all of them, and I’ll love them forever.
Now our new season begins and with all the studs returning.
Kaylie Avvisato (Northwestern), Jackie Yeager (Illinois), Abi Britton (Penn State), Kaitlyn Bronowicz (‘24 uncommitted), Emily Collins (‘24 uncommitted), and Ava Farina (‘25 uncommitted) are all ballers and I can’t wait to get back on the fields with them!
It is really is going to be fun and I can’t wait! We will compete again at the highest level of travel softball and bring, just like Coach Suzy says, the SISTA FIRE!
Stay tuned….
— Mia Galella
