“Not many people get the chance to continue playing the sport they love and work toward the degree they’re wanting,” says Laken DiStefano, Union University graduate student and softball star from Florence, Alabama. DiStefano’s story is interwoven with elements of hard work, overcoming adversity and a truly thankful heart.
DiStefano is pitching her last season of softball and getting her Masters of Education at Union. While striving to end her softball career on a high note, she is working toward her goal of teaching early childhood and coaching high school softball.
I sat down with DiStefano to get a glimpse into her story. DiStefano is genuine, kind and honest, with a grateful heart that is very evident. Within the first few minutes of speaking with her, I learned quickly of her deep love and appreciation for softball, her family and now for Union.
She attended the University of North Alabama (UNA) for her undergraduate years, where she majored in interdisciplinary studies with a focus on social and behavioral sciences. She played softball for UNA for three years, having to sit out her junior year for foot surgery. Since she was not able to play that year, she redshirted and was given an extra year to play post-grad.
I am not an athletic person myself. I have never really been able to get into sports. However, the way DiStefano spoke of softball and her love for the game make me want to run to the nearest field with a mitt and a ball.
She spoke of the many life lessons that softball has taught her: to overcome adversities, obstacles and difficulties; to work hard to get what you want; to hold yourself accountable; to learn how to set goals. It molds you and matures you. Despite the toughness of the game, she plainly and matter-of-factly states, “It’s something you love,” and goes on to explain how she was able to use softball as a distraction from hard times.
“For me, I’ve said that softball’s like my getaway, if I’m ever stressed or going through something,” DiStefano said.
She has played the game since she was eight years old, through middle and then high school, where she received accolades of three-time pitcher of the year, three-time all-area team selection and three-time all-region selection- amongst many other awards.
She reflects fondly on her time playing softball in undergrad; however, like anything in life, her experience was not perfect. She ended her undergrad a bit discouraged and was almost dissuaded from taking the opportunity to play softball her fifth year.
“I didn’t want to end it like I was going to end it. I don’t want to finish like this, because I love the game. So I wanted to finish on a high note,” DiStefano said.
She told me that when she decided she wanted to take her fifth year, she put her name into a transfer portal to see what her options for post-grad would be. She immediately got in touch with someone who knew that Union was looking for a pitcher for the upcoming year.
She talked with many people before her first visit who had spoken highly of Union and its academics. Upon her visit to the school, she immediately noticed that the education program was well-developed.
“That just bumped Union up on the list, because that’s what I’m wanting to go for,” Distefano said.
This opened up the door for me to ask her the classic, “So, why Union?” She laughed and told me she had been asked that quite a bit.
“Not only that everyone here is welcoming… everytime I would talk to them, they would bring out how faith-centered and Christ-driven it is,” Distefano said.
She says one of the stand-out moments for her at her visit to Union was when head coach Mackenzie Sher prayed over DiStefano and her family.
“And it wasn’t just her praying like, ‘Oh, I pray she has a good future,” DiStefano said. “She was saying like, even if I didn’t choose to come here, to lead me to where He wanted me to be.”
That singular instance truly showed her and her family how serious Coach Mack and others at Union were about their faith.
“So, what did your parents think of Union?” I asked her.
“They LOVED it, loved it,” DiStefano said. “After we left that day, dad and them were like ‘I know we just got here… you probably have other places reaching out… but I just feel like this is where He wants you to go. I feel like he literally cleared this path for you to go here, because not only is it the softball, but the coach, and the education program.'”
After thinking and praying for a few weeks, DiStefano told her parents they were right. Union was where she wanted to go.
“They were like, ‘I KNEW that’s where you were gonna choose!’” DiStefano laughed.
DiStefano’s love for her family is truly evident in how she spoke of them. She teared up when talking about her father, as someone who has both inspired her and pushed her to be better. She explained that he would stop at nothing to help her succeed: spending hours catching for her as she practiced her pitching, driving hours away for lessons and consistently helping her better herself.
When DiStefano first arrived at Union, her previously injured foot started bothering her again, and she was not able to play for some of the fall semester. She told me that she was so scared that being reinjured was indicative that she would not get the fresh start that she hoped for. However, advice from DiStefano’s parents helped recenter her through the struggle.
“My parents reminded me that even if it did end early, I have a lot to be thankful for and proud of..,” DiStefano said. “Because a lot of people have the dream of going to college to play, and I did get to do that for three years. Even if it does have to end early, I’m thankful that I was brought here.”
Thankfully, DiStefano was able to learn pain management for her injury and get back on the field. Still, the transition to Union was not seamless for her with struggles that both I, and I am sure many others, can relate to. She was worried about being able to find community that resembled what she had at home. Since she chose to spend her undergrad at a school that was very close to family, going to Union was the first time that she was going to be away from them.
“That’s one thing I was nervous about when I came here…,” DiStefano said. “I was like, I’m only here to play softball for a year, like, I’m nervous about meeting new people… making new friends… getting to know teammates.”
She said it was definitely a struggle at first to get acclimated. However, when I asked about her relationship with her teammates now and if she was able to find that sense of “family” with them, her eyes lit up, she smiled and she spoke with enthusiastic affection. She told me that within the first week, she was already developing friendships with many of her teammates.
“They were just really welcoming… they made me feel at home,” DiStefano said.
She told me about the weekly devotionals that her softball team does together.
“Before I got here, at my old school- we didn’t do that,” DiStefano said. “So then, coming here doing that- we get a different perspective of things… I also think that helps us as a team come closer together. If we’ve had any experiences that relate to whatever we’re talking about, we’re able to share that. I would definitely say we are vulnerable with each other.”
DiStefano’s love and appreciation for her coach and team is definitely not unrequited. I asked Sher what it has been like having DiStefano on the team, and she responded with deep gratitude for her.
“She has been a great addition on the field, but more importantly, she has made a huge impact in so many different areas off the field,” Sher said. “Her personality is infectious, she always reminds us that it’s okay to smile.”
I noticed this about DiStefano, as well. She smiles quite a bit, and that makes you want to smile too.
“She leads with her demeanor, and I think it’s awesome to see how her teammates feed off that,” Sher continued. “Laken has experience that takes time to build up over the years, but she has never treated anyone less than herself. She looks to serve and help in any way she can. She’s fought through adversity and though I’m sure it has been frustrating, it’s awesome to see how God is working through it. The only negative about Laken is only having her for one year. I wish I was able to be a part of her journey a little longer. Even though her years might be short here I will always be thankful for her loving heart, joyful spirit, and contagious fight- for such a time as this.”
