Ally Cifaratta, Softball | Hometown: Cicero, N.Y. | Major: Finance

After the last time you step on that field, you think about many different things. You think about all the memories you’ve made with your teammates, all the hours you spent at practices and games, all the triumphs and the failures, but most importantly, I thought about how softball made me feel.  

Softball is a sport of failure. It’s not an easy sport to play physically or mentally. There will be days when you feel like you can’t get a hit to save your life, and then there will be days you feel like you’re on top of the world because you helped your team win. The hardest part about playing my last game was realizing that I would never get that feeling again where you feel unstoppable because of a great performance. You feel great because your teammates cheer you on and see you rise to your fullest potential. 

With those great feelings come a lot of hardships too. Waking up early to go to lift when you want to sleep in, having to skip out on plans with friends because you have practice or games, and all of the things you feel like you miss out on because you’re spending your time at softball. But what I would say to you is that you GET to go to softball. You GET to go to 6 a.m. lifts and be supported by your teammates, you GET to go to practice to become better, and you GET to represent Suffolk University as a student-athlete.  

I used to dread a lot of these things, but switching your mindset towards positivity can make a huge difference in your life and your game. These last four years were some of the hardest of my life, but I can also say they were the most rewarding. Getting to feel like you are part of something bigger than yourself and feeling like you’re really good at something, is an immeasurable feeling unlike any other.  

I set a goal for myself to play college softball since I was a kid. Now at the end of my career, I can say not only did I play college softball, but I accomplished things I never even dreamed of, including making All-CCC First-Team my sophomore year, being captain of the team this last year, and finishing college with a cumulative 4.0 GPA. None of this would’ve been possible without the support of my teammates, friends, family, and coaches.  

This sport taught me the true meaning of tenacity, commitment, sacrifice, and friendship. I learned to persevere in the hardest of times when all I wanted to do was give up. I gave everything I had to this sport and this program until I had nothing left to give. I have committed hours of my time and energy to be the best player I could be. I made personal sacrifices for the good of the team and always put the team above myself. With all of that, I also found amazing friendships and memories that could never be replaced. But at the end of the day, I’ll tell you it was all worth it, and I wouldn’t change a thing.  

Softball has been and always will be a huge part of my life and a huge part of the person I have become today. Without softball, I never would have met my best friends, I never would have been able to accomplish all that I have, and most importantly, I never would’ve known what it was like to be part of a team. In my opinion, being part of a team is the best part of playing this sport. You have people who want you to succeed, who want you to be better, and who will celebrate the wins, but also grieve the losses with you. They’ll pick you up when you’re down and they'll help you see something in yourself that you never knew was there. Thank you to Suffolk softball and my teammates for giving me the best four years of my life. I wouldn’t have traded a second of it and even though it wasn’t traditional or how I expected it to go, it was nothing shy of perfect. 

So, to the next #6, I say, never take a single day for granted, even the hardest ones. Go into this program with a passion for the game and the fire to win, and be willing to do whatever it takes to be the best you can be. Always believe in yourself and never let anyone take away your confidence because you can do anything you set your mind to. Lastly, don’t leave this program with any regrets or what-ifs and be the best teammate you can be, because it will not go unnoticed. 

I always felt proud to be a Ram, whether we won or lost. I have immense pride in my school, my team, and myself. It has been an honor to lead this team and be part of this program, and at the end of the day, despite the challenges, I would do it all over again. I am excited about the next chapter of my life, but I will forever cherish my time as a Suffolk softball player.  

Sincerely,
Ally Cifaratta, #6