Whipping her arm around and throwing right down the middle, senior Kate Bookidis throws a perfect pitch, striking out her opponent Bookidis is one of the top starting pitchers for the Bowie Lady ‘Dawgs softball team.
Bookidis is an experienced softball player and pitcher, as she’s been playing since she was a young girl in elementary school. She wanted to compete in more activities and softball was a path that opened up for her.
“I was in fourth grade when I first wanted to play softball, and honestly, I probably saw it on the TV or something,” Bookidis said. “I was just like, dad, let’s try this sport, and at that age, I was just trying sports, and I ended up loving softball.”
Most athletes can say that playing for such a long time comes with dedication and motivation for the sport according to RossTraining. Bookidis describes how her motivation for her sport has propelled her throughout her softball career.
“My love for the sport and finding enjoyment in it, while not getting burnt out, has been a key factor in my life,” Bookidis said. “I’ve been so fortunate to have good coaches and good people to play with, who inspire me on a daily basis to keep playing the sport.”
Someone that Bookidis has been playing with for close to four years is senior Alyssa Lusk. Lusk credits Bookidis to much of the softball program’s success over the past couple of years, not just through skill but also through her personality.
“Kate impacts the team with her bubbly personality in so many amazing ways,” Lusk said. “She never fails to put smiles on our faces even during hard games. She is always so welcoming to everyone just because of how friendly she is to all.”
Not only do her teammates think she is a great player and person, so does her coach. Head coach Elizabeth Wissel describes the benefits that Bookidis brings to the team.
“She is an amazing player who greatly benefits the team year round,” Wissel said. “She is always hard working and never gives up, which is a trait that is very important for a softball pitcher.”
An athlete’s journey isn’t always linear and can involve some ups and downs. To try and combat this, Bookidis practices heavily to keep her abilities up to her best.
“I do lessons multiple times a week with two pitching coaches and a hitting coach,” Bookidis said. “Besides working with my coaches, I pitch in my garage and go to batting cages. On my own I work on my conditioning to stay in shape for in season and out of season.”
Working outside the practice field is something that athletes know is a must to succeed. Lusk indicates that Bookidis is so successful because of her efforts to always improve and never slack off.
“Kate is always pushing to be her best version of herself and continuing to improve her skills in any way she can,” Lusk said. “She is successful because of the work she puts in and is continuing to grow everyday.”
Bookidis is now a record holder here at Bowie, just reaching 350+ strikeouts throughout her high school pitching career. Achieving this feat is something that Bookidis is truly grateful for accomplishing.
“It felt really good, especially with my team behind me and my coaches,” Bookidis said. “It had been in the back of my mind for a while but it wasn’t something I was focusing on. I want to stay present and pitch my best without focusing on the record.”
Continuing her pitching abilities after high school, Bookidis committed to Trinity University, a Division 3 college in San Antonio, TX. She is excited for what there is to come on her new path in her softball journey.
“I am most excited to play on a new team because of the unknowns,” Bookidis said. “I don’t know the coaches or what the opponents will be like. Also, just being able to keep playing the sport I love with people I love will be great.”
Bookidis ,having pitched for years and knowing the ins and outs of softball, has some advice for younger girls playing softball. She wants all girls to just enjoy the sport and the presence of their teammates.
“Just stick with it and put in the work but also don’t force yourself,” Bookidis said. “Enjoy playing the game and you’ll succeed in it. It’s not all talent so keep working to improve your abilities and you can get far.”
