Cal Baptist-committed 2024 IF/OF Savannah Gatewood of I-5 Softball 16U-Snyder/Fitz has joined the Dugout Chatter Blogging Crew and she will be providing her insights and analysis on her trip with the USA Travel Ball Team to Copa Amistad III Aug. 1-6 in Havana, Cuba.
She batted .463 with 12 doubles, 10 triples, 48 runs and 31 RBIs her junior year for West Ranch High of Valecia, CA. In 65 at-bats for I-5 Softball-Snyder this summer, she’s batting .444 with
three homers, a triple, six doubles, 25 runs and 15 RBIs.
Here’s her blog for Thursday, July 20, 2023:
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My name is Savannah Gatewood. I am a senior and four-year varsity softball player at West Ranch High in Stevenson Ranch, CA. I play travel softball with I-5 Softball 16U-Snyder/Fitz and I am a proud California Baptist University softball commit.
I am excited to have been chosen to participate in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to compete with a USA Travel Team Aug. 1-6 in Havana, Cuba. I am one of 12 on the team made up of high school and college softball players chosen to represent the USA at the 3rd annual Copa Amistad Tournament to compete against the Cuban Junior National Olympic and Olympic National Teams.
To be considered, I had to submit my softball skills video, live game footage and references to Coach (Manny) Travieso for review. I also sent in an essay as to why I should be selected. Coach Travieso said I was chosen not only for my position(s) but for my desire to represent the USA and to experience this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
I am so grateful to be able to represent the United States and the sport of softball. At the age of 13 (years old), doctors found a tumor in my left leg. I thought my dreams of playing softball were over. I am beyond thankful to the skilled doctors at Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles, who performed my surgery. Being in the hospital at such a young age made me resilient and empowered to keep moving and follow my dreams. Each day that I am out there playing softball, I remind myself of how far I have come, the commitment I made to myself to help empower others and to not let anything stand in the way of my passion for softball. Softball has shaped who I am. I have learned values and life skills through sports. The softball field has been a safe place for me. I hope my softball experience will leave others inspired, motivated and hopeful.
I am excited and fortunate to be able to travel internationally to Cuba and learn more about my own family heritage while also helping to strengthen the softball bond between our two countries. I know this experience will challenge me in new ways, helping me to be a more well- rounded person.
I am looking forward to competing at PGF 16U Premier Nationals with my travel team I-5 Softball-Snyder/Fitz 16U next week. This is my last 16U travel ball tournament before meeting my USA travel team in Burbank, CA, Monday, July 31. I look forward to sharing more details of my experience.
— Savannah Gatewood (Follow Savannah on Twitter @SavGatewood2024)
