THE UPROAR surrounding the field becomes a distant murmur as Mia Brown digs her cleats into the pitcher’s plate. The mound is her sanctuary, a judgment-free zone where she can simply be herself. Her laser focus narrows to the catcher’s signals, the familiar routine quieting her mind despite the game’s intensity. This is Brown’s happy place.
“I love the sport — I love absolutely everything about it. One of the reasons softball has always been such a big part of my life is because I’ve always felt like I could be myself. No matter who I was around on the softball field, all I had to do was satisfy myself,” Brown reflected.
But the passion driving her success on the field was casting longer shadows over her life. With each blistering pitch, she poured more of herself into the game, slowly blurring the lines between athlete and person, chasing an identity defined by statistics and scoreboards.
When other 3-year-olds played under the bleachers, Brown practiced alongside her older sister, Ella, coached by their father, Todd. But when Ella was seriously injured in an accident and no longer able to play, Mia took on responsibilities beyond her age. With every chink of the bright, neon ball against the Louisville Slugger and its repeated whump against the leather glove, her love for the game grew more than ever, nurturing the quiet confidence she exuded on the field.
Fueled by a determination to improve, she invested countless additional hours of independent practice.
Her dad, Todd, said, “Mia has had a grit about her since she was 3. She would practice for hours on end — she would not be outdone. She has a competitive edge about her that is relentless.”
Now, she gives back to the sport, mentoring young players. Witnessing their growth fills Mia with pride, knowing how hard they worked. Even more rewarding is seeing players return lesson after lesson, having mastered what they previously struggled with through dedicated practice. She truly believes in them and hopes they sense she’s their biggest fan.
“I really try to push the confidence part,” Mia shared. “I tell them to step in the box and tell themselves, ‘I’m the best player out here.’ Once they believe it, you can just see a change in their demeanor. They’re determined to hit the ball right back at me because they know they’re prepared.”
She believes equally in her teammates and encourages them, knowing the game’s outcome is a mutual effort.
Mia said, “I’ve really tried to push ‘do your best.’ We’ll all do our best, and it’ll all work out in the end.”
Her strength is undeniable, both on and off the field.
“Mia is our fighter — she’s tough, not just physically, but mentally as well,” her mother, Sara, said in a Facebook post. “Anyone who knows her — really knows her — can attest to this. She’s probably the most mentally strong person I’ve ever met. Over the years, Mia has been her sisters’ protector, her dad’s substitute boy, a leader on the field for her teammates, and held responsible for so many things that sometimes I wonder how she doesn’t crumble under the weight of it.”
Allowing ourselves to be vulnerable sometimes exposes our greatest strengths. Years of Mia measuring her days and her value by statistics and scoreboards stole her joy, coming between her and time with the people she held dear.
Mia shared, “Last softball season, I went through a really tough mental health crisis, and it made me realize how important Christ was in my life. I was letting the outcome of my softball games — that little ball — define me as a person so much that I couldn’t enjoy time with my family or my friends. I didn’t feel like I could talk to Christ. I came to the realization that, at the end of the day, I’m not going to have that yellow ball. Softball is going to end one day, but I’ll always have my relationship with Christ and my family and friends. I came to the realization that my relationship with Christ meant more than the game.”
Time on the mound produced a bond with catcher Abby Flynt. The two share an unspoken connection forged through countless games, practices, and their shared faith.
“We’ve really grown together this season. She knows me on the mound, probably better than I know myself. She knows what pitches I can throw, when I can throw them, and what to call. She knows if I’m struggling what pitches I can throw to come back from where I’m at,” Mia said. “She knows me better than I know myself, honestly. She’s one of my best friends. And she’s also helped me grow closer to God. We pray before every game. I think she’s played a huge role in my growth in Christ this past year, and I’m just really thankful for her.”
Friends, family, and faith on and off the field fuel her life now. Her new perspective goes with her as the next season of her life and softball career opens at the University of Memphis.
Mia said, “I’ve always loved kids. When I get out of college, I want to be a pediatric [intensive care unit] nurse.”
Todd said, “As her dad, I’m in awe of the woman she’s become, and words can’t express the pride I carry watching her with young kids and older adults. She will make a great nurse, wife, and mama one day — or whatever she sets her mind to do.”
Now, she’ll take the mound at the University of Memphis with clarity. Although the mound remains her sanctuary, she has found balance. Her identity is no longer solely defined by the game. Centered by her faith and surrounded by the unwavering support of family and friends, Mia can simply be herself. And when she plays her last game, she’s ready to pour her passion into helping others on a new field. The future lies wide open before her. GN
