Photo By 94th Airlift Wing | The All Air Force Softball Team poses for a group photo after winning the Armed Forces...... read more read more
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The All Air Force softball team won the 2017 championship against the U.S. Army with zero defeats. An Airman from JBLE was part of the winning team and used the motivation from friends and family around her to keep her going strong.
That Airman was Airman 1st Class Daniella Cortez, 633rd Force Support Squadron commander support staff journeyman, the starting pitcher and the only JBLE Airman to make the team.
Her accomplishment and drive as well as her road to success needed to be shared. Luckily, the Public Affairs office had the opportunity to sit down and talk to Cortez. Here is what she had to say:
How long have you been playing?
I have been playing for 18 years. I started when I was four, playing tee ball with my family and it just advanced from there on. I played in high school too and have been playing since. My motivation comes from the love I have for the game as well as being able to call myself a winner. It runs in the family because my brother played baseball, my mom played softball-she was a pitcher, my dad played softball-he was a pitcher, and I’m a pitcher so I guess it just started from there.
How did you hear about the sports program?
I did some research and only found out stuff about the Air Force Academy, which obviously I’m not in. I asked my supervisor if he knew anything and he did. He helped me find the website, he’s never done the process, so we contacted the sports director here, and he told me what I needed to do.
Why did you join the Air Force?
I was bored, and I was going to school not knowing what I wanted to go to school for. I was switching my major all the time. I wanted to get out of Clovis, so in 2016 I joined. It was a random thing, my family was kind of like what are you doing.
How was tryouts and camp?
We would eat breakfast as a team at 7 am and split up into two groups. One group would go to fielding practice, and all you would do is hit balls nonstop for one and a half hours. Then the next group would go and do the same thing. Then the first group would go to batting practice, and switch again. The intensity of the camp was very hard. We were always sore, we could barely move, it also took a mental toll on us because of the heat outside. We would have scrimmages at the end of every day, and that’s when the coaches would sit and watch to see who they picked for the team.
How was your support system and team?
My support system was very motivating and uplifting. They believed in me more than I believed in myself. I definitely wouldn’t have made it through without them. I would call my mom and tell her I shouldn’t be here, I can’t keep up and she would remind me of my talent, and she would motivate me to push forward. My family did go and watch me play for the last 3 games. It motivated me more and made me feel more comfortable. My team and I were there for each other from start to end.
How did it feel when they called your name because you were picked for the team?
Honestly I didn’t think I was going to make it because the competition was real crazy, and I felt like I was not up to par with them at all. I was already ready to go home two days in. I was like there’s no way I was going to get through this. So when they called my name my coaches said I made a face, they were like you should’ve seen your face when we called your name. I was surprised. Then I was glad.
What did that moment feel like when your team placed first?
We actually knew we were going to place first before the end of the tournament. We had to keep pressing to be undefeated. The feeling after the whole tournament was a sigh of relief for everyone, we were excited and happy.
What’s next for you?
My next goal is to return to play for the Air Force team this year, we have to try out again, and then after I want to make the all Armed Forces team.
Cortez is currently in college and hopes to graduate with her CCAF at the end of this year. Her overall stats in softball gives her a great chance in making the Armed Forces team this year, and she has a great support system to persuade her to not give up.
| Date Taken: | 02.07.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 02.08.2018 09:46 |
| Story ID: | 265203 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 70 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, JBLE Airman makes All Air Force softball team, wins championship, by SSgt Alexandra Singer, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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