Preston 'fully determined' to play this season
As a ninth grader, it seemed by the time Sydney Preston graduated, her softball career would read like a novel. As she begins her senior season at Smackover, her career on the diamond has been more like a short story.
Not because of her performance.
Preston's last and only full season of softball was her sophomore year. She played as a freshman but that was the COVID year. She only played three games as a junior before she suffered a season-ending injury.
Since her freshman year, Preston has endured injuries on both knees and had three surgeries.
“Recalling back a few years, I've done about 12 months of rehab and several weeks of sitting and not being able to walk,” Preston said.
The power-hitting first baseman went to camps over the summer in hopes of garnering attention from college programs. But, as the season approaches, her senior year of playing is in doubt.
“I don't know if Sydney is going to be able to play. Her knee keeps popping out,” said Smackover coach Dennis Steele. “I'm not sure what's going to happen.”
“Her ‘good' knee is giving her some trouble,” said David Preston, assistant coach and Sydney's father. “She's in pain every day but is going to do all she can to play. She's already decided that this season will be it. She is accepted at (Arkansas) and wants to be an anesthesiologist. She decided that she likes playing but the pain has been going on so long, she wants to try to get this senior year in and go on to school.”
Days before Monday's season opener, Steele had no idea of Preston's playing status. Her practice had been severely limited due to the pain.
“I think Sydney Preston could be one of the best hitters in the conference if not the state. But I don't know if she's going to play,” he said.
But, it's her last chance to play. Preston believes she can deal with the pain.
“I am very excited to get back to softball this season,” she said. “I've had a little scare that happened a few weeks ago and I won't be able to play until I go to the doctor. But I am fully determined to play this whole season and play through my pain. I am a little nervous given my past but I am doing all I can to prevent anything else from happening.”
Preston understands all too well, with chronic injuries, being careful doesn't always work.
“In our fourth game of the season last year, I was playing catch with one of my teammates and when I stepped to throw the ball my left kneecap fully dislocated,” she said. “That's where it all started before my big surgery.”
Despite the injuries and the surgeries and the rehab and the pain, Preston said her love of softball has grown more than ever. There's not a girl in the state more anxious to step on the field and hear an umpire yell, “Play Ball.”
“Senior year is going to be great and I am talking
all the opportunities I have to play and do well,” she said. “My goal this year is to help the incoming freshman as much as possible and guide them and myself to have a great season.
We have a really young team this year and we've all had to work together to figure everything out. I'm very excited for what is to come for my senior season and our team has great potential.”
The final decision, though, might not be Preston's to make. A doctor has to say it's O.K. for her to play. After everything she's gone through, what if she can't play again this season?
“Playing softball was and will always be worth it to me,” she said. “I've made so many friends and playing softball has taught me many life lessons as well. Even though I didn't get to play as much as I had hoped and expected, I got enough playing time to get good at my sport and make the most of it. I'm hoping that I get to play this season but if I don't get to, it was all worth it. I've put so much hard work in that has paid off and I still have a team that is supporting me through everything.”
Smackover opens the season Monday at Junction City.