By: Rose Hutchins
Kylie Rae Makerney, a junior at Glencoe High School, is no stranger to the softball field. In fact, she’s been playing the sport since she was six years old. “I love softball. It is my life, and what a beautiful life it is,” Kylie shares. A versatile athlete, she’s a strong left-handed pitcher and first baseman, but she can virtually perform anywhere on the field.
For Kylie, her mom has always had a major impact in her life. Even during challenging times, she encourages Kylie to never give up and to always keep improving. Her mom once told her, “You learn something new every single day, even if you think you didn’t.” Those words have stuck with Kylie and continue to motivate her to grow into a better person each day. Kylie also recognizes Brittani Murray for shaping her mental strength on the mound. She taught her to block out outside noise and stay focused. Reminding Kylie, “This is a game of failure and how you push forward from it is what matters.” Both women have left a lasting influence on Kylie, guiding her as she shapes into both an athlete and person.
For Kylie, success in sports takes countless hours practicing, lessons, and dedication to the game. She knows the importance of going back to the basics like working off of the tee to perfect her hitting skills. All that hard work paid off when she cranked a three-run home run against the Wellston Tigers. “I couldn’t believe it till that home run softball was in my hands,” she said with pride.
Her advice to younger athletes is to keep this quote in mind, “Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.” This quote alone has carried her through many at-bats. It reminds her that every at bat is different, you may strike out once, but the next time you could hit a home run. That’s the joy of the game.
Ultimately, Kylie takes great pride wearing her uniform. She hopes to build unity and positivity throughout her community knowing it is her responsibility to represent her school with honor. After high school, Kylie plans to attend college to pursue a degree in occupational therapy while continuing her softball career at the next level.
