Sidney Fitts, a student at Gaston High School, verbally committed to the softball team at Trinity Baptist College in Jacksonville, Florida.
Fitts had never heard of Trinity before she visited in January, but when she got there, she said she instantly felt at home. Rob Blackmer, head coach at Trinity, greeted her by name setting the tone for the trip, she said she knew it would be a good day after that.
It was little things that drew Fitts to the program at Trinity, she said. Blackmer has been in contact with her making sure school and games are going well. Fitts was able to practice with the softball team where she felt welcomed and like the team considered her as their potential next teammate.
“Everything meshed together,” Fitts said. “It was just perfect. I love how it’s God oriented, and the academics do come first for every sport… It’s God, academics and sports.”
Fitts plans on attending college for coaching and physical education, which she said she looks forward to bringing her experience back to Gaston after she graduates.
Fitts started playing baseball with her siblings and dad growing up, but when her mom, Susan, found out Fitts wanted to learn how to pitch, she went to the library that day to find books and videos to teach her how to properly pitch, because her dad is left-handed.
She also started playing travel ball, while playing travel ball Fitts was able to play with people she never would have met otherwise.
“I met one of, in my opinion, the best college coaches I’ve ever met in person,” Fitts said. “He’s like a dad. He keeps up with me all the time.”
The passion Fitts has for the game has been a driving factor during her five years of travel ball, she said. Susan encouraged Fitts to play with different teams and learn different positions. Two years ago, Fitts was invited to play with a team in Gulf Shores, who were from Kentucky and Indiana.
Fitts is more than just a softball player; she is also a volunteer firefighter and student at the Alabama Fire College career-tech program.
“We’ve raised her that giving back is the best thing you can do for your community,” Susan said. “With us having a smaller community it’s family oriented, tight knit, so being able to come back, this is my alma mater, and give back and see her give back… It means a lot.”
Susan said Fitts is always helping and encouraging younger players on the field. So much so that Fitts started giving lessons for girls between the ages of eight and 13 outside of school coaching them on catching, fielding, pitching, outfield, batting and running.
“I’m not a fast runner,” Fitts said. “But I know how to help you get faster.”
Fitts didn’t have coaches who told her she needed to condition and strengthen and not just practice softball, until she got into high school. So, she wants to help the younger athletes prepare for high school so they don’t get injured and so they can be the best they can be.
One of the reasons Fitts said she wants to be a coach is because her sister’s knee was injured during her time playing high school sports and she wants other students to stay safe and healthy.
“My main goal as a future coach is to make sure that student athletes, if they do get injured, is to help prevent a re-injury,” Fitts said. “Help them readjust.”
Fitts urges anyone who wants to play sports to give it a try, she said not everyone is a born athlete, but they can learn if they put in the effort.
“I’ve been told at least four times in my life playing softball, ‘you’ll never be good enough’ and I’ve stuck with it. You take those words and you just reverse it. You put in the work”
“Her dad and I are really proud of her,” Susan said.
