In the world of youth sports, some athletes stand out not just for their skill on the field, but for their resilience and determination in the face of adversity. In April 2024, our Amazing Athlete spotlight shines on Scarlett Costello, a spunky 11-year-old dynamo from the Suwanee Sirens Travel Softball Team.

Scarlett, a fifth-grader at Riverside Elementary, is the epitome of perseverance. Despite facing personal challenges and setbacks, she remains undeterred in her pursuit of excellence both on and off the field. With unwavering support from her parents and younger brother, Scarlett has emerged as a force to be reckoned with in the world of softball.

Her journey into the sport began just a few years ago, inspired by watching her younger brother Christopher play baseball. Scarlett loves everything about softball. It is “her thing”, and she is committed to improving her abilities year-round. She played basketball for the first time this year. While she was interested in learning a new sport, her true motivation for hitting the court was to help her with the motivation to stay in shape for spring softball. She also trains weekly in private lessons,  is self-motivated in her daily drill routine, and is committed to growing during the off-season and getting better each day.  

Scarlett is truly motivated, but it has not been an easy journey to accomplish all that she has in just a few short seasons. Just before her first season of softball, she suffered a traumatic injury requiring an intense recovery process. Scarlett knew she had a rough road ahead, and had the option to bow out of the season or push through. Scarlett chose to push past the injury, focus on recovery, and commit to warrior through it. Hence the nickname “Warrior” was born!

The following season Scarlett ended up in the hospital again, this time due to a stomach issue, but she was undeterred! She was determined to dive in and commit again. She has shown such determination and has overcome so many personal obstacles. Her parents are so impressed with her dedication to growing in the sport and how she shows up and demonstrates leadership for her peers. She has learned to push herself and how to encourage her teammates when they are struggling. 

When we asked Scarlett if she was proud of herself for what she had overcome, she tried to smuggle a smile. She giggled a little, but it was abundantly clear that she was so very glad to be on the other side of the struggles. It’s fair to say that overcoming those issues has made Scarlett stronger. Scarlett is modest, and she is also proud of herself, as she should be! 

Her parents, Chris and Lindsey, cannot help but notice how resilient Scarlett is. They are seeing this again and again as she grows in the sport. Being a catcher can be brutal. They are so impressed with how she can take a hit! She has learned to “rub some dirt on it” and power through the sting. Scarlett knows how to muster through and stay in the game! Lindsey shared that they are learning to guide her in differentiating between discomfort and injury. Scarlett will push past pain to the point that Lindsey sometimes worries she is ignoring a serious injury. There’s a fine line between being determined and being dismissive. This is a skill they’re still working on!

Scarlett has come to embrace her “tough as nails” persona! She knows that her struggles have made her a stronger player, and made her intense! Scarlett’s pregame ritual includes a playlist of hype music her Dad can get behind! Chris loves how she has allowed music to help her visualize victory. Her game-day hype consists of Pantera, Linkin Park, and Metallica, and her current walk-up song is by Korn. She’s a tough girl and all grit on game day!

Off the field, Scarlett is equally impressive, using her platform as an athlete to advocate for kindness and inclusivity. Whether standing up to bullies at school or leading by example on the diamond, she exemplifies the qualities of a true role model.

Chris and Lindsey share that her teachers consistently compliment her on how caring she truly is. They love her work ethic and love that they know she is always going to do her best. Chris commented that he has seen her confidence soar since starting softball and it has helped her to battle an undercurrent of anxiety. Scarlett’s assistant coach Danyelle McKinnon shared some insight into Scarlett and the role she plays on the team.  “Scarlett goes above and beyond to be a great softball player and teammate. She has a great work ethic, and attitude and always encourages her teammates to be better. Scarlett proves to be a valuable player on our team which is why her teammates look up to her daily. Athletes like her don’t come around often and I’m excited to see her future as a student athlete in Suwanee.”

Scarlett shares the admiration for her coach and teammates. Scarlett loves her team, she loves watching them grow on and off the field and enjoys close friendships with other players. Scarlett admires her coaches, especially Coach Danyelle as she shares “She pushes me because she knows I want to be better. She believes in me.”

Looking ahead, Scarlett has her sights set on joining the North Gwinnett Middle School softball team and eventually playing at the collegiate level, with the ultimate dream of being on an Olympic Softball Team. With her unwavering determination and indomitable spirit, there's no doubt that Scarlett Costello has a bright future ahead of her.

As Scarlett continues to inspire those around her with her resilience and passion for the game, she serves as a shining example of the power of perseverance in the face of adversity. We salute Scarlett Costello as our April 2024 Amazing Athlete and look forward to witnessing her continued success both on and off the field.