The end of the high school road has come

Athlete diary

Friday, May 29, 2009

Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photo by EMILY BARNES Melanie Mitchell completed her senior campaign Saturday with a victory in the Class 2A state championship game over Landsdowne. E-Mail This Article | Print This Story

Well, this really is it. 

We won a state championship on Saturday and ended up finishing the season undefeated. Who would have ever thought that this could happen? Just thinking about it all brings about a rush of excitement and feelings of accomplishment on so many levels. 

My high school career has not always been as perfect as finally getting that state championship, with tons of ups and downs dominating each game along the way. From being on the brink of knocking off defending state champ Calvert my freshman year, to walking out on the field at the University of Maryland in the state finals my senior year, there was a definite change in attitude between those years. 

It slowly morphed from that of going out and seeing what we could do and who we could possibly beat, to knowing that there was nothing left to lose and everything to gain every time we stepped out on the field.

There have been so many good memories in my four years at McDonough, and there have even been a few that our team has collectively deemed unmentionable. The past is the past, and we fully intend to keep it that way. 

The only thing that matters to me now is that we were able to bring the state title home in my last year of being able to do so.

We will always remember the nervousness surrounding each meaningful game of playoffs, the intense innings of not knowing if anyone would ever come up with the big hit, countless ITB (international tie breaker) games per McDonough tradition, and the relief that came after every game we won, whether it took the traditional seven innings or 15 innings of seemingly never ending play, which did happen my sophomore year.

Personally, I cannot thank my teammates, coaches and supporters enough for everything that has happened these past few years.

Every day was literally an adventure, whether it was a run of the mill practice day or a big game day. I will really miss how genuinely fun it has been to be able to play with such great girls each and every year. 

To my seniors this year, thanks for always being there for support and never failing to believe. For the underclassmen, keep playing hard and good things will happen.

I wish good luck to everyone in their future endeavors, and I hope that I too may be on the receiving end of some luck now and then. 

Although, I feel like one of the luckiest people in the world right now. 

Thanks so much everyone and goodbye!  

"Don't stop believing."  

Melanie Mitchell