By Lee Trawick Riverbend News
Evie Pitts is a senior at Branford High School and plays centerfield for the Lady Buccaneers varsity softball team. Pitts roams centerfield like a tiger in a cage, waiting for her moment to make a play. She is aggressive at both the plate and in centerfield.
Pitts has always had an innate drive to be the best and to push herself as far as she can go and live with the results. If she gives it her all, she knows she didn't quit or cheat on herself or her teammates and, no matter the outcome, she can live with it. Softball has always been her passion, but that wasn't her only one growing up as she also plays varsity volleyball, track and is a member of the weightlifting team. She is not just a member, but also excels in all aspects of sports, as she is the reigning 2021 Weightlifting State Champion. As she graduates from Branford in May 2022, Pitts hopes to leave behind the legacy of a great teammate, a great student and, more importantly, someone people can always count on.
"The biggest moments I will carry with me throughout my life is the appearances at state. Those situations have taught me how to handle pressure and reach out of my comfort zone," Pitts said. She laughs when talking about some of her funnier memories with her teammates. "So there is always one teammate that is goofy and doesn't always do the brightest things. Well, Cloey Criggall decided to take an old bat and hit a pole with it at practice. That bat bounced off the pole and hit her in the mouth, causing her to chip a tooth. Her tooth is fixed now, but I think that's something we all will remember. We called her 'Chippy' for the rest of the season." Leaving high school, Pitts said she'll miss being able to play multiple sports. While she's glad she'll get to focus on softball, she said her routine has always involved multiple sports.
Pitts knows this year will be her dance on the volleyball court, softball field and the track, all while defending her State Champion title and she doesn't plan on wasting it. Working hard and pushing herself is something she enjoys; she likes to see how far she can go. But, she also knows it isn't only her hard work on the field that has gotten her to this point.
"My grades have played a huge part in preparing for the next level; they gave me a better chance of receiving the offer and will also, hopefully, go towards earning more academic scholarships," Pitts said.
She understands growing up and playing sports in a small community brings a little more responsibility than someone from more extensive areas; a person's actions and words echo a little louder in a small community. Pitts knows she is being watched with every swing, lift, dig or grade she makes. By putting on the Buccaneer jersey, no matter what sport it is, Pitts knows she is a role model and that's ok with her; she relishes the idea of someone looking up to her. To her, sports are more significant than the game; sports are both a pathway and platform, neither of which should be taken lightly. Being a role model is not done only on the field or when she puts on her jersey, but knowing every decision matters. Pitts looks to her parents as examples of what it means to be a role model. She is thankful for them being such a driving force in her life and showing the definition of selflessness by making sacrifices so she could be where she is today.
After graduating high school, Pitts will play softball at Valdosta State University. She looks back over her high school career and is grateful for the many influences in her life, such as her softball coach, Saavedra and her travel ball coach, Stacy Smith. Both have made significant impacts on her career. She has also been encouraged to be a good influence on her younger teammates, much like her coaches have been to her. Pitts' advice to her underclassmen is to "Always push yourselves to the max; do what makes you happy, even if it's the unpopular choice."
If she could have sat down with herself as a freshman, knowing what she has learned to this point, Pitts said she would tell herself to step out of her comfort zone sooner. Pitts would like everyone to know how much of a role sports has played in her life, along with the people she has met and the places she has traveled. Every handshake and hug she has experienced has impacted her life on and off the field, which has made the journey mean more than any accolades she could receive.
When talking about what it meant for her to get the offer and commitment from Valdosta State University, Pitts said: "I was relieved. It felt as if a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders."
Pitts said she is excited about the opportunities that await her in the future. However, she will savor the memories of her senior year and the opportunities that are yet to come as she goes through the next several months of her high school career. After all, Pitts still has goals ahead of her while continuing to wear a Buccaneer jersey.