"A girl doesn't belong on the all-star team. She isn't tough enough."

The coaches and parents didn't even bother to whisper. To them, I was not an all-star. I was the girl playing shortstop. I was the girl up to bat. I was the easy out.

For weeks, I went to practice and stared down a coach who lobbed me the ball and stuck me on the bench. Then I went home to a father who told me I needed to play harder and study more. Nothing I did on the field or in school was ever enough.

One day I stood up at the plate with what felt like three strikes already against me. It came down to one pitch, one swing...one moment to prove them all wrong.

-- Rosie