Espn praises kelley montalvo

Bamaball2001 · March 12th, 2009, 09:46 AM

Great story by By Graham Hays ESPN.com on Kelley Montalvo.

I know Kelley personally and I can tell you that she lights up the room when she walks in. Her leadership abilities are second to none and she can play the sport of softball with anyone.

I also know, first hand, how hard it is to even get looked at by a D1 school if you are not at least 5' 6". The thinking that bigger is better is as true for softball as it is for virtually any other D1 sport.

For Kelley to be recruited by and ultimately sign with Alabama (which IMO is one of the top 5 softball programs in the nation) and then to excel on the field the way she has is a monumental achievement, for any player, much less one that is 4'11".

While my daughter was growing up she loved to play the sport of softball. During those years it became obvious that she would always be the shortest girl on the field. Overcoming this mentally, especially in her teen years, was harder for her than playing the game itself. I told her year after year that "you can't change the size of your body but you can change the size of your heart".

Heart is something that you either have or you don't. It can't be coached and yet all coaches want it. Coaches never know until a player steps on the practice field whether a player has it or they don't. If they have talent and heart they are destined for great things. Like Monty says at the end of the article;

'I play with heart; why can't I just give you that?'"

Any one that has ever watched her play ball knows that Kelley gives you that on every play, every day. Kudos to Aly, Vann and Murph for overlooking her size and seeing a ballplayer. But, that is why Bama has become a perennial power in the world of softball. No one sees the "ballplayer" better than those three.

I am a bit sad that this is her senior year and therefore her last. But, I am glad that I had the privilege of watching her play for 4 years.

WAY TO GO MONTY!

Kelley Montalvo's 4-foot-11 frame brings power to Alabama softball - ESPN

RTR!

SavannahDare · March 12th, 2009, 10:14 AM

I fell in love with the way Kelley plays last season. She's amazing and the amount of heart and drive she displays on the field makes her taller than anyone out there.