By Elizabeth Contreras
Avaree Beach, a sophomore at Broken Arrow High School, has been playing softball since she was just eight years old. Over the years, it has become a safe place of belonging and a source of some of her favorite memories. Now a pitcher and utility player, she thrives in the challenge and variety her positions bring.
“My friends keep me coming back to the sport I love,” she shares. For Beach, those relationships are what make Broken Arrow different. “The friendships I’ve made and the fun atmosphere,” she says, are what make it a great place to play.
At home, Beach has devoted parents who provide her with a foundation of support built for success. “My parents have been the biggest influence in my life,” she says. “They’re my biggest cheerleaders, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without their support.”
Beach keeps her routine simple. Before each game, she takes a moment to pray. “I mentally prepare by praying before I walk on the field,” she says.
Her resilience showed last season when she was injured mid-year. Determined to return, she worked hard to come back strong. Starting the home opener, Beach struck out 13 batters. Even through setbacks, she believes the game has taught her valuable lessons.
“Even when you go through difficult times there is always a good outcome,” Beach points out. Her attitude towards adversity reveals the strength of her character and the humility it takes to overcome it.
Among her favorite memories was her team’s undefeated run at the Premier Girls Fastpitch tournament in Tennessee. “A moment I will never forget is when my team won PFG and hitting my first over-the-fence home run,” she beams. Her next big goal includes making it to the state tournament and “taking it one game at a time.”
More than anything else, Beach wants to be remembered for the relationships she built with underclassmen and for her inclusive spirit. Her advice to younger players: “Keep your head up. This sport can be mentally and physically straining, but it’s totally worth it.
After high school, her hope is to continue playing softball in college while pursuing her dream of becoming a pediatric nurse.
