Grapevine softball shortstop’s inspiration brings team closer

When players share their struggles, teams come together and form a bond which is evident on the field.

So it seems, as Grapevine shortstop Heather Haggard has persevered through the early softball season in spite of dealing with the recent loss of her father two months ago.

“He is my inspiration for everything,” Haggard said of her father.

Grapevine’s players appear to have drawn closer as a unit because of the tragedy their teammate endured.

Haggard said the team is playing together more solidly than ever before, which they feel will feed the hunger to drive deep into the playoffs this season.

“We’re working together and playing more as a team this year,” Haggard said.

Haggard’s father was known by many of the players, as he was a softball coach who took classes to learn the sport and became the commissioner of softball for the Grapevine Baseball and Softball Association (GBSA).

Even without the memory of her father pushing her this year, Haggard has been building on her own talent.

Haggard said she is a pretty decent hitter from the right side of the plate, but can hit with power and slap from the left.

Haggard is a highly competitive player who said she enjoys using her speed on the base path to aggressively play the game and become an intimidating factor.

Her strong arm is a benefit from her shortstop position and certainly an asset when she gets behind the plate for her select team, Epic.

Along with the strong arm, Haggard’s agility allows for covering plenty of ground to either left or right.

Some of the competitive nature may come from the fact that she has two older brothers who played baseball.

“She’s one of the best athletes on the team,” said Grapevine head coach Steve Bottoms. “She’s invaluable, to say the least.”

Her resiliency has brought together a relatively veteran club which now has just one freshman and a few sophomores.

The Lady Mustangs seem to thrive off her drive to be the best she can be – especially in light of her recent circumstances.

“I’m not sure I could have kept it together like she has,” Bottoms said.

Haggard admitted, though, this will be a difficult season without her father.

“It’s sort of difficult, but I am looking forward to it,” she said of playing without her biggest fan nearby. “My dad said to never give up. I decided to keep it going after he passed.”

Her plans are to play at the collegiate level, but she will concern herself with that farther down the road.

Until then, the Lady Mustangs are looking to improve upon their bi-district round exit from last year’s playoffs.

“I think we can go far this season with the team we have,” she said. “We have good chemistry. We can do it. They’re very supportive in everything I do. They’ve got me through a lot being there for me. We’re a really close team.”

This story was originally published February 22, 2016 at 4:01 PM with the headline "Grapevine softball shortstop’s inspiration brings team closer."