By Derrick Smith

There is a lot of work that goes into athletes becoming their best. Being willing to do the extra work is what sets the good athletes apart from the great ones. Kinsey Roberts knows what it has taken for her to become the softball player that she is.

“There has been a lot of hard work and effort for me to become the player that I am today,” she said. “Another thing that I feel like has helped me is that I love the game of softball and having a love for the game gives you a drive to want to be the best you can be.”

Roberts is a freshman at Cherokee High School, where she plays outfield, second base, and pitcher for the Chiefs. She is no stranger to the game of softball, as she played in her first t-ball game when she was five years old and for her, the rest is history.

As an avid fan and player of softball, it is no surprise that one of Kinsey’s biggest influences is a softball player.

“One of my role models is Odicci Alexander,” she said. “She worked hard to accomplish her dreams. Also, my parents have made a big impact because they are super supportive and push me to get better. Lastly, my coach, because she has taught me everything I know and she never stops believing in me.”

While she has made some great memories and had some memorable moments with her teammates, Roberts says that here is one personal memory that stands out as her favorite.

“There was one game where I caught two pop flies in a row,” she stated. “It was really awesome to be able to help my team by making plays.”

Outside of sports, Kinsey is also a member of the Academic Team, the Speech and Debate Team, and the choir. She is also the older sister to twins.

Roberts says that there is another person that has had an influence on her and that is her piano teacher. He taught me how to play the piano,” she stated. “That helped me develop my love for music. I am thankful for all I have learned from her.”