By Hayden Swope

Not many athletes can say they fell in love with their sport at a young age, but for Salina South’s Sadie Xaysongkham, she always knew the game of softball would be for her. 

“My love for softball started when I first watched my sister,” Xaysongkham said. “After that, my dad got a team together and we started playing, and as I got older, my love for softball grew. The girls on my team have been with me for over 10 years, they make me want to get better and they’re the reason I love my sport.” 

The honorable mention second baseman spent the offseason training her physical and mental game. 

“Some things I’m focused on this season are definitely my hitting and getting more confident with it,” Xaysongkham said. “I have a problem with getting in my head and not performing 100 percent so I’m working on improving that every day. I’m also working on talking a lot more to the girls on my team, picking them up, encouraging them, and giving them advice.”

While accomplishing the goals and achieving the accolades matter to Xaysongkham, the most important piece of the game happens with the people off the field. 

“I play mainly for myself, softball is like a safe space for me, I have the ability to go on the field, be myself and just let loose,” Xaysongkham said. “I also play for my family, softball has brought my family closer and has brought us people that are now family. Going out on the field, doing something great and knowing that I made my family happy is the best feeling ever and every time I go out, I thank God for giving me the opportunity to play.”

Xaysongkham plans to attend Fort Hays State University to continue her academics in the fall. 

“After high school, I plan on going to FHSU,” Xaysonkham said. “They have a great radiology program that I’d like to attend and become a sonographer.”