Sophia Gatti has always loved softball; she has been playing since she was eight but has always been around the sport because of her older sister, Anna Marie. As a freshman, Sophia was a pitcher for the Southmoreland High School softball team, but she has decided to take a season off from the school team to focus on other goals, although she still continues to play on a travel team.

The softball team, now without one of its pitchers from last season, has high hopes for this season even with Gatti not being there for this season.

As spring begins, so does the new softball season, but this year Gatti has decided not to play for the school team.

“I didn’t stop playing, I just prefer not to play in this area.” said Gatti “I need time to focus on other goals. When you play a sport for the school, you don’t get a lot of time for anything else.”

Sophia, although not on the school team,  plays on a travel team.

“I travel a good bit to play this sport. As of now, this summer I will be travelling to California and other places to play quite a bit.” She hopes to use her softball career to earn a scholarship to play at the college level once she graduates.

While Gatti is focusing on her travel team and on her other goals, the school team is preparing for their season.

“We have goals of being section champs. We just need to take it one game at a time and play to the best of our ability,” said sophomore Faith Miller, who plays for the girl’s team. “I strongly believe we will make playoffs, and I have high hopes of making states.”

Gatti also hopes the best for her past teammates as they go into their season “I honestly think they are going to be great! They have so much talent and potential. I only see great things for them this year.”