Blakely Ball
Elk City Softball
By Ken Hansard
Not everybody gets to play high school sports with a sibling. Not only does Elk City junior leftfielder Blakely Ball get to do that, but she is right next to her sister, senior centerfielder Brenyn. Blakely, along with her sister and a host of other talented Elkettes, helped make history last season, taking Elk City to its first state appearance in over two decades. However, once there, their season ended in the first round. Now, a year older and more seasoned, Blakely and her teammates not only want to get in the door; they want to kick it down. “We’re proud of our team for making history by going to state for the time in twenty-some years. This season, I’m looking forward to returning to the state tournament and making a statement.”
It’s no mistake that Blakely plays beside her sister. The two come from an athletic family, “My love of sports started with my parents, who both played collegiate sports and pushed me to play. Their passion and encouragement made it a natural part of who I am.”
Although she was happy with the team’s 31-5 record last season and their progression to the state tournament, Ball knew that the Elkettes were capable of even more, so she resolved to take her game to the next level, “During the offseason, I got in the barn a lot and worked on my swing. I also play travel softball. Just getting out there in front of live pitching helps a lot. This season, I aim to raise my batting average and steal more bases to be a catalyst for our team’s success.”
Although Blakely is excited about the prospect of returning to state and making more history, she is grounded enough to understand that the season is not all about a destination, but about the journey to get there. As such, she wants to relish each game, while helping establish the program’s culture, “I’m looking forward to the first home game, because we always get tons of support from our community. As an upperclassman, my role is to step up and be a leader and a positive influence.”
When not on the diamond, Blakely also participates in basketball in the winter and track and field in the spring. Although she has two years left in school, she has a solid vision for life after high school. She eventually hopes to attend the University of Oklahoma to further her studies in nursing school. She aspires to ultimately make a career as a Registered Nurse.
