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You’ve probably heard the phrase “No guts, no glory.”
From my experiences in life, both personal and professional, those who tend to rise to the top are those not afraid to step forward and be proactive, not reactive, even if it means doing something a bit uncomfortable or even bold.
It’s hard to put ourselves out there sometimes; it’s natural and understandable to be afraid someone might not like us or even reject us.
However, my experience is those who are the most successful are the ones who put themselves out there, risking the spilling of “guts” but with the hopeful and highly rewarding “glory” that can come from it.
If you’re a promising softball player, you are going to have failures—every at-bat, for example, someone loses—the pitcher or hitter! The successes, though, can be so rewarding!
That’s why I really admired the email I received from JaMaya Byrum, a 2023 third baseman/shortstop who attends Henderson County High in Henderson, Kentucky, and is a member of the Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier 2023 – Rocky club team that’s been very successful.
We’ve known and followed JaMaya for a while now—she was, for example, a National High School Player of the Week runner-up for the week of April 20, 2021 when hit for the cycle going 5-for-5 with two home runs, five runs scored and seven RBIs.
Yea, she’s very good on the field!
But today we’re showcasing her skills off the field; specifically, how she has presented herself, yes, even “marketed” herself in telling her story. She has a lot to promote too: JaMaya is a 4.2 GPA Honors student taking several AP Advanced Classes and a member of several social and academic clubs.
She plans on majoring in Business Marketing in college (my opinion: she’s already very good at it!) and, as you’ll read below, she has a lot of schools already pursuing her for the softball/academic package she brings to the table.
“I have many college visits already scheduled over the next couple of months,” JaMaya explains. “I plan on making a college decision towards the end of Fall.”
If you want to know what impresses college coaches (and media folks like me!), it’s those who do something to standout—and that’s important off the field too!
Check out JaMaya’s story and for those coming up in the game, make note of how she does it because this is what a college prospect looks like…
— Brentt Eads, Extra Inning Softball
*****
Hello Mr. Brentt & Extra Inning Softball Staff,
First of all, thank you so much for what you and your organization do for the softball community. Thank you for the stories, rankings, and the time and dedication you all put in.
I just wanted to give you a brief story about my recent development and softball journey.
I guess I will start with 2020, obviously being the year that majorly affected the softball community. Because of COVID, we didn’t have a high school ball season. I was incredibly upset to lose a season with my team, but I used the best of that time to work on myself.
On the mental side, I strengthened my relationship with Christ, understood that this game and ability to play softball is a ‘gift’ and that I have a purpose & mission to fulfill while playing.
Through this understanding, I gained even more confidence in myself.
High School Ball
Physically, the first move I made was in the weight room. I went to the weight room, sometimes twice a day, and added tons of fundamental drills, which helped increased my foot/glove work. All these steps helped to improve every aspect of my game.
I had to work even harder because I was always told, when you first glance at me, I’m not the stereotypical third basemen. I have always been smaller, so I have to make up for it in grit!
All my coaches always said I was too small for third base so initially they would move me to other positions (which now I appreciate even more, because I’ve learned to play many positions = Utility Player!).
The work wasn’t always fun (boring fundamental drills on repeat 100 x 100!), but when the season came, it paid off. I earned the third base spot and, for the first part of the season played the hot corner for my high school team!
Then, a little before mid-season, my coaches met and decided I could best help the team at shortstop. They said I had the range, the speed, the movement, the knowledge, and, most definitely, the arm.
At first, I was upset because I had worked so hard to play third base and it was my favorite, but after being the starting shortstop for the rest of the season, I found a new true love! I love the range and different roles it has. God has a way of working things out!
After a great regular season, my team made it to the State Tournament—which we haven’t done since I was born in 2005. We played at the University of Kentucky’s softball field for state and had a great run. (Please view this short video for my highlights of that state game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BI-uLPUvLU ).
I finished my high school season with 110 chances in the field and only had four errors!
Club Play
Now travel ball… let’s rewind a few years.
Like many other players, I started playing softball around the age of 6, at our local rec league. Then within two years I had joined a small travel ball team. I played on this team for many years—it was mostly the same players every year and this is where I met several of my true lifelong friends.
This team was based out of my hometown, Henderson, Kentucky, and we participated in mostly local tournaments that were within 30 minutes to two hours from my home.
In my 12U years, I told my parents that I really wanted to step out and see where the game of softball could take me. And I wanted to compete at a higher level.
My parents had always told me and my little brother—he’s 12 and loves basketball—that they would always do whatever they could to help us with any activity, as long as we gave 100 percent and was dedicated to that activity.
Well, even though I had played softball for years, during my 12U seasons it was like a light switch was turned on. I really started focusing on my skills and the game. It became more serious for me—it was still fun, just became a little more serious—so I put more time and effort into softball.
My parents saw ’the new’ me and agreed to venture out and start looking for a more elite team with a bigger competitive platform. They would not agree to do this until I had truly made it up in my mind that this would require more: more work, more practices, more time… more, more, more!
And was I willing to do this? YES!!!
I tried out for several top Southern travel ball organizations. I got offered a position on several of these teams (I also got turned down on a few) but the Thunderbolts org is where I was led to go and was the best fit for myself and family.
I’m very thankful for my parents. I understand this is a sacrifice to play softball at this level. It takes so much time, so much money and dedication. I love my Mom and Dad so incredibly much, and I wouldn’t be at this level without them.
And a huge thanks to my bother and dog, Koda, as well as they have to put up with going to my long games in the heat too. To my family I give a big “Thank you all so much! This has been such an amazing opportunity and incredible ride… and we still have a long road ahead! I am so blessed to have you all in my life.”
I tried out and made the moved to the Birmingham Thunderbolts my first year of 14U. Moving from a more local team to a nationally ranked team from another state was a huge, huge change. It was a bigger program and the Bolts way of coaching was so elite, but it was exactly what I needed.
Moving to that team showed how much growth I needed (especially after the first Bolts-Rocky weekend camp!)! Most of the players had been with the program for years, so their skills and development were at a much higher level than mine. I definitely had some catching up to do!
Overall, however, playing for the Birmingham Thunderbolts forced me to analyze every process of my game and forced me to get better, and I couldn’t be more thankful! I have learned so much about the physical game of softball, the softball community, my personal game and the mental side of the game as well.
My main position with the Bolt 2023 team is third base; however, when we participated in the PGF Nationals this summer my coach saw a good fit for me at shortstop towards the end of the tournament (the highlight video links of my play at PGF Nationals is provided HERE) so once again I was moved over to shortstop and reconnected with my LOVE!
It was great being able to showcase this position mid-tournament in front of college coaches/recruiters and my teammates (they’ve never seen me play SS). My team went on to place 3rd in the tournament, which was a team best.
Looking Ahead
Personally, I have major goals: returning to UK’s softball field this season TO WIN STATE with my high School team and TO WIN PGF’S IN CALI with my travel ball team.
I am still working super hard because the journey is not even close to over yet.
Recruiting is the fun part! September 1st was amazing and I’m so blessed to have gotten several calls—some from top D1 schools, even Top 25 and Top 40 programs!
It’s been awesome living my dream, traveling the country with my family and playing the sport I love, while fulfilling the purpose and gift God has given me. I’m very excited for what’s in store for me and my teammates!
Thank you so much for your time, and please check out my videos linked to see my progress and development.
God Bless You,
JaMaya Byrum