Capo Softball Star's Sports Future Cut Short

Courtney Slye led off in the bottom of the ninth to give the chance to win their final game of the season.

With the team down 5-4, it was crucial for her to get on base or hit a homerun. She was 2 for 4 that game, determined to finish 3 for 5 at the plate. It was time for the Cougars to win it.

Slye battled through the count, only to see a fastball cross homeplate for the strikeout. This may have been her final at-bat playing organized softball.

“It's really saddening, but I'm going to cherish the memories that I have from it,” said Slye.

The school finished with a 12-16 record after losing to the league leader San Clemente High.

Two years after accepting an athletic scholarship from Savannah College of Art and Design to play softball, Slye was devastated by the school’s decision to discontinue its softball program. On January 23, the school announced that it would cancel softball, baseball, and volleyball programs to make more financial aid available for incoming students.

“I don't think I'll ever get used to it,” said Slye regarding her new situation. “I came to that school knowing that there's a program for me and a friend base. I feel like going to this school will remind me of what I'm lacking.”

Although SCAD’s softball program was not in the NCAA, Slye rejected top athletic schools such as Brown University, Rutgers, University of Texas, and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to pursue a career in animation. Her goal is to work for Pixar after being inspired by films such as Finding Nemo and Up. She chose SCAD because they were the only school that offered both athletics and a degree in art, but ultimately she could not get the best of both worlds.

“I have this athletic kid who for two years told other coaches no, this is where I’m going,” said her mother, Sonja Slye. “She gave up her dream of ever making it on the national softball team. She knew this school wasn’t an NCAA school, it’s an NAIA school.”

Regardless of the termination of the school’s softball program, SCAD will still honor the scholarship and cover Courtney’s housing and tuition. Even though the school has Courtney financially secured for the next four years, she still wrestles with the thought of being unable to play organized softball.

“Looking in the long run, art will get me where I want to go and get me to what I want to pursue,” said Slye. “It's bittersweet. I'm gonna get my education and get to where I want to go, but the athletics part you only have so long. You only have so many years in your youth. Having that get taken away is terrible.

“It kind of tore a part out of me. And just thinking about it brings back up that kind of pain.”

Slye will still be looking for opportunities to play softball again when she goes to school, whether it be in a recreational league or club. Although art is her long-term passion, she still cannot let go of the game:

“I grew up with it. I love the dirt. I enjoyed the team unity because you’re a part of something. It's just so many years of my life. So many memories, and I'm really good at it.”