Bright lights gleam on the infield as freshman Madeline “McCrae” Moore gets set on the pitchers mound and prepares for the game to begin. With the time about to start, she waits under the slick grass and the dusty bases with anticipation and excitement to kick off the game.

According to Moore, playing softball and basketball and running around on courts and infields is part of who she is. Moore plays on the varsity softball and JV basketball teams in her first year in high school. She hopes to continue playing these sports, and become a positive role model for future players on the team for years to come. 

 “[When I was younger,] I always did all kinds of Little League sports like soccer and gymnastics,” Moore said. “But, when my siblings started playing basketball and softball, that’s when I got really into it.”

Moore was put into recreational league softball when she was six years old, and later began playing with the school’s softball program in sixth grade. Once in high school, she became a pitcher on the varsity team as one of three freshmen playing on varsity.

“McCrae brings a high level of natural ability and competitiveness that has allowed her to step into a varsity role as a freshman,” head softball and assistant basketball coach Sara Navarro said. “She’s confident in her skills and isn’t afraid of big moments, which is not something you always see at that level.”

Whilst reaching the end of softball season, according to Navarro, one of Moore’s best games was the game against Manor on March 3, where the team won 26-1. As pitcher, Moore had seven strikeouts while throwing 66% of her pitches for strikes, meaning she had a higher percentage of control on the mound, as opposed to Manor’s 55% of pitches for strikes. 

“In softball, McCrae quickly became a vital part to the varsity team in her pitching ability,” head girls basketball coach Tiffany Litton said. “She is competitive and composed, both qualities vital to a pitcher’s role.”

When tryouts for the softball team started, Moore had suffered a concussion that stopped her from playing basketball at the time. After taking a step back and getting cleared from her doctors, she was able to try out and keep on playing midseason basketball.

“I ended up hitting my head in one of our last [basketball] games and was out for a week and a half,” Moore said. “It was hard because you can’t do any physical activity while you have a concussion, so it was like going from 100% to 50%.”

Softball and basketball do have a slight overlap, but with the help from her coaches, Moore is able to manage both. Since softball season doesn’t begin until early spring, Moore mainly focuses on basketball in the winter, while still practicing her pitching once a week. 

“In both sports, McCrae brings a fresh and positive attitude that exudes hard work and commitment,” Litton said. “Basketball skill wise, McCrae played the post position and contributed to the team in her ability to finish at the basket, rebounding, and post defense.” 

Repping her No. 11 jersey in the JV basketball team, according to Moore, her personal best game was against McNeil on Jan. 30, where the team won 42-30. 

“In basketball, my favorite memory so far is watching her excel under the basket,” Moore’s mom Elizabeth Moore said. “She is a consistent high scorer for her team and has really found her groove doing a drop step to the basket.”

Over her summer breaks, McCrae stays active in both sports, playing in summer leagues for softball and basketball. This past year, basketball tryouts were in the first days of school, requiring constant physical activity and time practicing to make sure that she stayed warm and ready for basketball tryouts and softball preseason. 

“[My parents] are really good about asking me, ‘Hey, do you want to go outside and shoot around?’ or, ‘Hey, do you want to go do this?’ if I’m not already doing it on my own,” McCrae said. “They’re really supportive with getting me where I need to be, helping me buy my equipment and all things around that.” 

According to McCrae, the rest of her time playing high school sports, she hopes to continue playing softball and basketball. With the goal of becoming a leader on her teams, she aims to create a positive setting for the incoming classes and keep working towards her personal goals in each sport. 

“Balancing two sports at a high level is not easy, and she’s done a solid job managing those demands,” Navarro said. “There is always a fear of an athlete being stretched too thin or spending more time developing in one over the other, however, McCrae has proven commitment even at the cost of extra free time to be the best athlete she can be in both sports.”