Welcome to Opening Day. As a new season gets underway, I’ve parted ways with the outlet where you could find my softball writing the past four years. You’ll see me pop up from time to time this season with the good people at Softball America. Maybe other places, too. We’ll see. If you believe in telling this sport’s stories and have need of words, I’d always love to chat.

In the meantime, here’s my first story of a new season. There’s no paywall, just follow the link to Softball America. I’m grateful to Miami’s Jenna Golembiewski and Chloe Parks for letting me share their story. They make it a powerful one, so I mostly tried to get out of the way.

It’s a story rooted in numbers—the marvelous athleticism of Golembiewski’s staggering offensive season in 2024—and curiosity about the human behind them. Which is to say, it’s a story about a sport I love.

Jenna Golembiewski still has her mom’s instructions tucked away. She brings the letter with her to Oxford, Ohio, each year, packed alongside the softball glove, clothes and bedding. It reminds her how to handle the challenges ahead—collectively for a Miami MAC dynasty replacing starters all over the diamond and individually for a player replacing one of the most prolific power hitters in NCAA history atop every opponent’s scouting report.

Not that her mom could see the future. At least not in that much detail. LeAnn Kazmer Golembiewski didn’t get to see her daughter win three consecutive MAC tournaments or play in three consecutive NCAA regionals. She never knew Karli Spaid, for that matter, the All-American who was the Ruth to Jenna’s Gehrig a season ago. But the letter contains everything Jenna needs to meet the current moment, not to mention the far more consequential obstacles that inevitably await in a life beyond the softball field. …

Read the full story at Softball America.