By Ken Hansard
Recently VYPE had the opportunity to interview Seneca High School pitcher and third baseman Callie Rhoades, a senior with the Indians’ softball team.
VYPE: What are some things you are looking forward to this season
Rhoades: It’s my senior year. I’m just looking forward to having so much fun and soaking in every moment. I look forward to hopefully breaking records, winning another district title, having a good winning record, and going out with a bang!
VYPE: How do you envision your role with the team?
Rhoades: I see myself as a leader. I am constantly helping all the girls out with my knowledge of the game and talking my girls up to get hyped about whatever is going on when it comes to a big play or a big hit – whether in a game or in practice. Also, I try to make the game fun, whether that means goofing around or doing a fun chant that gets us hyped up. I always try to have the memory of a goldfish; my mom taught me this. Let the bad things go and worry about the next big thing that can make up for it. I teach this to my teammates as well.
VYPE: Do you have specific goals you are focusing on for this season?
Rhoades: I really want to break my own record of 10 home runs in a season. I want to win a district championship. I also want to set a higher season RBI record, and I’d like to get more than 30 pitching strikeouts on the season.
VYPE: Are there any challenges that you can foresee for this season?
Rhoades: We only have 11 girls on the team. With only 11 girls, it can be a little bit scary because injuries can happen. I pray that doesn’t happen.
VYPE: What do you do in the off-season to improve?
Rhoades: After suffering an injury last winter, I worked hard to strengthen and build back endurance. I partially tore my posterior tibial tendon in my foot and was in a boot for about 4-5 months from November to April. I wasn’t able to do anything and had to wear my boot 24/7. Coming back from this injury included wearing inserts in my shoes and wearing a brace for protection. I had to do a lot of work to rehab my foot to get it back to normal.
VYPE: What are some statistics and accolades that you are most proud of?
Rhoades: I have been named All-Conference three times, All-District twice; I am a two-time All-Region qualifier, and I’m an All-State Nominee. I hit 10 home runs to set a new Seneca school record. I also broke the single game home run record with three in one game. Missouri Farm Bureau Insurance recognized me as Athlete of the Week. I made the news and Top 5 Plays of the Week for a diving catch against Carl Junction. I’m proud of these accomplishments because they show how hard I work and that the countless hours of work have a payoff.
VYPE: How did your love of the game begin?
Rhoades: When I was a little girl, my dad coached me on one of our Seneca league teams. My love for the game began there. I wanted to be a pitcher, and my dad set me up with a pitching coach. My pitching coach had a granddaughter on a travel 10u team that had girls from the Seneca area. I joined my first travel team at eight-years old playing for that 10u team. After a year or two, my dad created a new travel team. He was the head coach for about three years. I have been on a travel softball team every year since then. Next summer I will be going on my 10th year of travel softball and, sadly, my last. I also played on a YMCA League basketball team coached by my dad. Starting sports as a young girl was the beginning of my passion for competition. I wanted to continue and to work hard to be the best I can to succeed in all sports.
VYPE: What other sports or activities do you participate in?
Rhoades: I also play basketball. I have played basketball since I was about seven or eight years old.
VYPE: What are your plans for after high school?
Rhoades: My plan for after high school is to get a scholarship to play softball in college and get a business degree while doing it. I then plan on attending cosmetology school to become a certified hair stylist. At some point I want to look at opening my own salon.
VYPE: Anything else you would like to add?
Rhoades: I just want to thank my parents for everything they do for me and the support they give me to chase my dreams. I love you guys so much. Watching college softball when I was younger lit a spark in me to play softball – and someday college softball. I have worked my butt off from day one to make that happen. I would not be where I am now without the time, money, and countless hours my parents spent helping me practice, playing catch with me, and catching me when I pitched. When I got a little older and started to pitch faster, my mom would catch me in a full set of gear so as not to get bruises. They also took the time to pitch and load the tee for me to practice hitting. My dad, as he likes to say, has “perfected” my swing. I couldn’t have done it without him by my side every step of the way.
