Arianna Almekinder has a passion for softball and is a born leader.
Her coaches say she doesn’t demand it.
“Its something that just happens naturally for her,” says Assistant Coach Krystal Forsyth of the 10U Stingers.
When not playing or practicing with the U10 Stingers, she is usually at the field on Edwards street 3-4 times a week. With the help of her dad, a pitching and hitting coach, Arianna continues to become a more well rounded softball player.
“She just loves the sport. She knows what is supposed to be happening. So when she is grabbing her glove and getting ready to go out into the field, the girls see it too and say, I know to do that.”
Being a senior player in her division this year, Arianna has taken the next steps in becoming an all around great player, leader and athlete, displaying etiquette while on and off the field. Being a pitcher is mentally difficult and this year Arianna has become more poised.
“She just plays the game, no matter what the pitch is. She is always for the next pitch. When she is not pitching and we say can you put on some catchers gear, she’s like, “Yep I can do it.”
When Arianna is on the bench she will sit out and cheer on her teammates. She can only pitch 9 innings a week in 10U Stingers, which is more of a recreational league with a mix of girls from several towns in the area.
“They all know each other and they just want to learn from mistakes and play the game, they really don’t care about winning and losing at this level.”
Working with all the younger girls, especially the first and second year players who are 7 or 8 years old, she is helping them with hitting and fielding along with what they are supposed to be doing and when.
“Besides being a fantastic softball player she is one of the nicest kids you could ever meet. She is an amazing leader on this team. She has supported the younger players and helped them along throughout the season. She always supports her teammates,” says head coach Jill Yasses.
“Her team members look up to her and all the coaches think so highly of her. She is such a coachable player and we just enjoy being around her.”
As starting pitcher in Monday evening’s game against a team from Warsaw, Arianna kicked the first inning off by striking out the first three batters.
According to Coach Yasses, on Monday night she faced 24 batters playing in 6 innings, striking out 17. She batted 1 for 2 with a double. The U10 Stingers won the game 6-0.
With one game remaining for this year in the short season due to COVID, Arianna’s overall stats with the 10U Stingers, pitching 8 of the 11 games played so far this season, she pitched 36 innings facing 140 batters. She struck out 99 batters, walking 29, and only allowing 9 hits.
Arianna has good fastball, a decent change up and she is working on a screwball .
“She is so fast, kids can’t typically hit off her,” says Coach Forsyth.
Her dad Michael says Arianna’s season will continue as she is playing in a Rochester 12U travel league next.
In the winter she plays in indoor tournaments in Buffalo.
Arianna’s dad says she would play 24/7 if she could.
“We do have to take a break and let her rest up. This is her passion for sure.”
“Hopefully she can keep going up in the ranks. Her goal is college after this. She already has it in her mind that hard work is going to get her there.”
Arianna plans to go to UCLA, possibly Tennessee or Geneseo if a local college wants her.
“She’s got goals already,” says her dad.
If you miss the sights and sounds of local sports, the Stingers 10U team will take on Albion tonight at Stingers Field on Edwards street at 5:45p.m.