Rachel Francis is a senior at Glendale High School and the captain of our varsity softball team. She was born in Burbank, California, and outside of softball, her hobbies are reading and cooking.
Before Rachel joined the softball team, she had been playing tee-ball from a young age. “I never really had to ‘get into it,’” she said. “Rather, I just grew up loving it.”
Her mother, a huge Dodger fan, inspired Rachel to play softball. Doing things, like watching games late at night, made Rachel fall in love with the team. Eventually, Rachel’s mother signed her up to play softball at six years old.
Rachel became our softball co-captain last year, and after our former captain, Natalie Minkler, graduated, she took over to lead the team. “I worked hard to demonstrate responsibility and take a lead and be an example for younger players,” Rachel said.
Becoming varsity captain has been a full-circle moment for Rachel. As a freshman on varsity and working with the older girls, she learned so much from them, and she is honored to do the same for the current younger players.
Her plan as captain is to guide her team through the season by working with them on confidence as they learn the inside and outside of softball. “My personal goal this season is to do my best, but also to have fun while it lasts,” she said.
In her opinion, softball games are a bonding experience with her teammates. It’s one of the only sports where you cheer on your teammates individually when you’re on offense, but then you rely on each other when playing defense.
“Some challenges as a captain are keeping spirits up, especially during the off-season, when it’s just practice and no in-game excitement yet,” Rachel said. Her favorite part of softball is bonding with her teammates, but she admitted that it can be difficult when you hit a slump. It happens often in most sports, and from time-to-time, some athletes just get inside their own heads.
Rachel believes that joining softball can be good for students who are looking to join a sport. It’s a good community, and you can create a bond with your teammates. It’s also a great place to let off steam and build self-confidence.
She realizes that softball isn’t for everyone, but if people are interested in joining the team, they should come see a game and see how they feel afterwards.
Rachel will miss so much about playing softball when she graduates. “My teammates, the smell of the grass, the sound of the bat hitting the ball, the excitement of the game, even the dirt on my cleats,” she said. After leaving GHS, she will also miss the teachers, and some of them will always have a special place in her heart.
Rachel’s plan after high school is to study biology at a school of her choice, but she is currently undecided. As she begins her path towards her career, she knows she wants to do something in the medical field, possibly even in sports medicine.
If you are interested in being a part of the GHS softball team, please contact Coach Forrest at [email protected].
