Glencoe junior Kylie Rae Makerney has learned that in slow-pitch softball, the smallest mistake can change everything. That is exactly why the varsity first baseman prides herself on anchoring the infield, stretching into the splits for short throws and battling high ones despite, as she says, being “short.”
“My mother inspires me to be me, to never give up even when it’s hard,” Makerney said, a mindset that shows every time she steps on the field for the Lady Panthers. “Slow pitch is decided by mistakes made and not talent. Your defense has to really be on top of it.”
Makerney said Glencoe softball feels less like a roster and more like a family she has grown up with. Practices and games are filled with shared errors and shared lessons, which she believes has helped the group mature on and off the diamond. “We make mistakes together and learn from them together,” she said. “You can always count on them when you need them.”
At the plate, Makerney has had to rewire her approach for slow pitch compared to fast pitch. She focuses on timing, even counting out how long it takes for the ball to reach the zone. “I mentally have to slow my process with hitting,” she said. That calm, patient approach mirrors what softball has taught her away from the game: patience, confidence, respect for others and herself, and responsibility for her choices.
Off the field, Makerney enjoys shopping for clothes, but between the lines she is all grit, often finishing games with one of the dirtiest uniforms thanks to her love of sliding, right alongside teammate Danielle Turner. She points to teammate Nola Ross as the team’s most vocal presence, always smiling and keeping everyone laughing. For Makerney, those moments of joy, effort and togetherness are what make Glencoe softball feel like home.
