Meilani Butts has playing softball for her whole life, swinging bats and running bases. Growing up in Eastfield, California, she began playing at seven years old. What began as a childhood sport quickly evolved into a lifelong passion through discipline, competition and a deep love for the field. Today, she continues to pursue her softball career playing in Oklahoma for Langston University.
“Just beating everybody out. You know, you would be the best, especially since there’s nine positions and you can really, you can’t you can’t play them all, there’s always competition,” said Butts reflecting on her mindset of the game.
Outside the field, there is studying to be involved with research and film. Every play comes with practice and precision. Not one player wants to be surprised during the game so seeing how they play and pitch is important to Butts.
”I want to strive to get first team, because I got second team my freshman year, so I kind of want to do better. And I wanted to hit 10 home runs,” said Butts.
As a student-athlete majoring in agricultural animal science, Butts is used to balancing heavy responsibilities with goals and dreams on the field. Knowing she’s prepared for it it helps her be a better athlete with a good mindset.
Her work ethic is incredible. She talks about practicing, self-improving and skill-building while still being able to be the person she is. Her personality and joyfulness not only makes her a strong athlete but a strong team player. Her energy and excitement shows up everywhere and set the tone before she steps on the field to play.
“I’m a very bubbly, high-energy person,” she said. “So I feel like if they see me down, then everybody’s down. I just have to keep everybody up, especially since I’m captain.”
As captain, she takes her role seriously. For Butts, every game is important and if she is not being herself, she believes the team will mirror her in frustration and tiredness.
Outside of her own performance, she has found other passions that she hopes to expand on which is coaching. Every summer she works with 12 U girls softball league and helps young players obtain their mindset on and off the field, while sharpening their skills to learn the sport and love it the way she did at a young age.
Bea Amukaya
Bea Amukaya is a Sophomore Broadcast Journalism major from Edmond, Oklahoma. She writes for The Gazette because she feels that is is important to educate people about their community and get the story out. She thinks the work they are doing matters because it gives people a voice. A fun fact about Bea is that she is a nail technician and has been one for 2 years now. She can be reached by email, beatrice.amukaya@langston.edu.
