JAIDEN BAME
HS team (graduating year): East Burke 2030
No. of years with Post 21: 1
Favorite thing about playing for Post 21: Everybody is really nice, and we all get along very well.
What got you started in softball: I was 4, and my stepdad and my dad got me into the sport.
JOLANN BUFF
HS team (graduating year): Patton 2027
No. of years with Post 21: 3
Favorite thing about playing for Post 21: It kind of feels like I’m playing in “The Sandlot” on the Fourth of July under the fireworks. It just makes me think of that scene. It just feels free and fun.
What got you started in softball: I was 3 years old when I started T-ball, and it just runs in my blood. I fell in love with it.
MARLEIGH CARSWELL
HS team (graduating year): Patton 2025
No. of years with Post 21: 3
Favorite thing about playing for Post 21: Playing for veterans and playing with girls from different high schools that I usually play against.
What got you started in softball: I was about 4 when I started. My older sister played, and I was interested, so my family got me started.
EMMALIN CLARK
HS team (graduating year): Draughn 2029
No. of years with Post 21: 2
Favorite thing about playing for Post 21: The people and the atmosphere.
What got you started in softball: Growing up, I watched my brother play baseball. I started softball when I was about 10.
ANNALIESE COCHRAN
HS team (graduating year): Patton 2028
No. of years with Post 21: 1
Favorite thing about playing for Post 21: I like being able to meet new people and be part of their positive experience in legion.
What got you started in softball: I watched it on TV when I was younger, and my stepdad definitely encouraged me to start playing when I was in about second grade.
BELLA CREEGAN
HS team (graduating year): Freedom 2027
No. of years with Post 21: 1
Favorite thing about playing for Post 21: The people.
What got you started in softball: I was like 5, and I used to watch softball all the time with my dad, so I decided I wanted to play.
ELAINA CURNUTTE
HS team (graduating year): Draughn 2028
No. of years with Post 21: 2
Favorite thing about playing for Post 21: Getting to meet girls from different schools in the area and getting to be on a team with them instead of playing against them as rivals.
What got you started in softball: I started in T-ball when I was really young. My mom encouraged me to start playing.
LEXI DALE
HS team (graduating year): Patton 2027
No. of years with Post 21: 1
Favorite thing about playing for Post 21: I like representing the local veterans, and I’m also glad that I get to play a few more games with my best friend (Marleigh Carswell).
What got you started in softball: I was 7, and my sister was playing, and I was really inspired by her.
FINLEY DUVALL
HS team (graduating year): Patton 2030
No. of years with Post 21: 1
Favorite thing about playing for Post 21: Making new friends and getting better by playing with older girls.
What got you started in softball: I started when I was in kindergarten because my parents encouraged me to get involved in sports.
MADELYN LEMASTER
HS team (graduating year): Freedom 2029
No. of years with Post 21: 2
Favorite thing about playing for Post 21: Playing for my brother, Anthony. He’s in the Navy.
What got you started in softball: I started playing T-ball and have been playing ever since then.
ALEX MAINES
HS team (graduating year): Patton 2026
No. of years with Post 21: 2
Favorite thing about playing for Post 21: Playing for the veterans and making them feel good.
What got you started in softball: I was about 7 or 8 years old, and I was just kind of jealous of my sister because she started before me, and I was cheerleading.
KAYDEN MAINES
HS team (graduating year): Patton 2029
No. of years with Post 21: 1
Favorite thing about playing for Post 21: I like the people. They’ve very nice and open to new people.
What got you started in softball: I started in T-ball when I was 5 because I wanted my dad’s attention.
MARIA MEDRANO
HS team (graduating year): Draughn 2026
No. of years with Post 21: 2
Favorite thing about playing for Post 21: Playing with people I never get to play with during school. I love everybody on the team. It’s just fun.
What got you started in softball: I was in fifth grade and actually played tennis as my main sport. One of my teammates in tennis asked me to come play Rec (softball) with her, and so I did and really liked it.
ADY MOOREFIELD
HS team (graduating year): Patton 2028
No. of years with Post 21: 1
Favorite thing about playing for Post 21: Becoming friends with people who I didn’t know too well that are on the team.
What got you started in softball: I was around 4 or 5, and my cousin Lexi Seagle played at East Burke. I watched her play one game and I’ve been stuck on the sport ever since.
KYNDAL MORRISON
HS team (graduating year): East Burke 2025
No. of years with Post 21: 3
Favorite thing about playing for Post 21: The community and getting to play with all the girls in Burke County, not just your school team. You get to collaborate with everyone.
What got you started in softball: I started at age 4. My dad played baseball, and I just saw my twin brother playing, and I thought it looked like so much fun.
LYDIA PATTON
HS team (graduating year): Patton 2028
No. of years with Post 21: 1
Favorite thing about playing for Post 21: Meeting people from different schools and getting to know them better.
What got you started in softball: Around first grade, my sisters wanted me to do something besides just annoying them, so they bought me a pair of cleats and said, “Go try out.”
MADDISON POWELL
HS team (graduating year): Draughn 2023
No. of years with Post 21: 4
Favorite thing about playing for Post 21: It’s more ball I get to play. I just finished my second year of Caldwell (Tech), so it’s my last go-around. And also, this is the first year I get to play with my sister.
What got you started in softball: I was about 7 or 8, and I had played T-ball and machine-pitch baseball before I got into softball. I’ve just kind of always been around sports.
MAKENZIE POWELL
HS team (graduating year): Draughn 2028
No. of years with Post 21: 1
Favorite thing about playing for Post 21: Getting to play with friends and meeting new people.
What got you started in softball: My parents got me started I’d say around 6 years old.
ABIGAIL ROPER
HS team (graduating year): Draughn 2029
No. of years with Post 21: 1
Favorite thing about playing for Post 21: Meeting all the new people and making friends.
What got you started in softball: Probably when I was 4 of 5, I started because my dad and grandpa played baseball and thought I should try softball.
ELLIE SHUPING
HS team (graduating year): Patton 2025
No. of years with Post 21: 3
Favorite thing about playing for Post 21: I never liked playing in the heat of the day, and playing under the lights is my favorite thing.
What got you started in softball: I think I was 5, and my older sister pitched. Seeing her and watching those games gave me a desire to do it.
DESIRAE SMITH
HS team (graduating year): Patton 2029
No. of years with Post 21: 1
Favorite thing about playing for Post 21: Getting to see all my old friends all together and meeting new people too.
What got you started in softball: I started T-ball about age 5. My dad had played men’s fastpitch, and I would always go to his games.
REAGAN WEBB
HS team (graduating year): Draughn 2028
No. of years with Post 21: 2
Favorite thing about playing for Post 21: Playing with my friends.
What got you started in softball: My dad, who’s the coach at Heritage Middle School.
MIKE HASSON
Role: Head coach, senior team
Favorite thing about coaching for Post 21: We get to create an opportunity for these players to represent the veterans, our country, and our communities through legion. And it brings the best in our county together to play for one team. I love to watch the players build those bonds with each other.
What got you started in softball: When (my son) Ryan got finished with baseball, Leah (my daughter) was going into seventh grade, and she said, “Daddy, it’s my turn. I want to do softball.” I went to a Liberty practice and went around to the other middle schools and started recruiting players for a travel team.
LEAH BOSTIAN
Role: Assistant coach, senior team
Favorite thing about coaching for Post 21: It’s so cool to play with all four high schools, which is something I remember from travel ball, getting to know the girls from the other schools a lot better.
What got you started in softball: I’ve been on the field my whole life, at first it was watching my brothers. I started around 5 and got back into it in middle school when I wanted to get a travel team started like they had.
ASHLYN CASTLE
Role: Assistant coach, senior team
Favorite thing about coaching for Post 21: I played when the legion team first started here, and I enjoy being around these girls who just love to play softball. It’s good to be in a dugout again. I’m so glad we have a senior legion team again this year and that these girls get to represent their county.
What got you started in softball: I was about 5, I guess. It’s been a long time. I did three sports, but softball was always my main sport.
WESLEY HASSON
Role: Assistant coach, senior team
Favorite thing about coaching for Post 21: The community-based aspect of the program, getting the local crowd out to support the girls, and supporting local veterans. The girls are competing against the best players in the area, and they have fun.
What got you started in softball: In 2016, my dad and I presented the idea of legion softball to the Department of North Carolina American Legion. And by 2018 after a one-year trial run, we were officially sanctioned.
BRAD BUFF
Role: Head coach, junior team
Favorite thing about coaching for Post 21: I helped coach junior legion baseball last year. I like being around the kids, helping them grow and get better in the sport.
What got you started in softball: My dad pitched fastpitch for 40 years. My brother pitched for 20 years. I played for about 20 years straight out of high school. I love fastpitch.
JEREMY LEMASTER
Role: Assistant coach, junior team
Favorite thing about coaching for Post 21: I like how it brings the girls together to play for something greater than the love of the game. My son is in the Navy and knowing we’re back home playing for him is something special.
What got you started in softball: My daughter is playing, so that got me into coaching softball. I played baseball and just enjoy helping the girls out, being there for my kid.
NOTE: Players Maddy Hudson, Rachel Mace, and Madysn Goines were not present when interviews were conducted.
— Compiled by Paul Schenkel
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