- November 26, 2024
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Marlana Sutton and Kinsley Moore Photo courtesy of Kirstin Moore
Marlana Sutton, Kinsley Moore and Meredith McGarity have been playing since 8U softball. Photo courtesy of Kirstin Moore
I can see them now, standing on a softball practice field for the first time in their lives. After team introductions, 7-year-old Kinsley Moore approaches 7-year-old Marlana Sutton, and they instantly become two peas in a pod.
These Lady Sandcrabs have literally spent their entire softball careers together. They started with the Lady Renegades, played on all the same travel ball clubs and have played with Seabreeze the last four years.
As their final high school season winds down, Marlana and Kinsley have yet to accept that they are finishing up their softball lives together. Marlana is headed to the University of Florida while Kinsley plans to attend Hillsborough Community College. Neither will to continue to play softball.
Nevertheless, softball has given them countless memories they still laugh about today. Like the time they collided infield and fell, when Marlana — the pitcher — ran toward first base, and Kinsley — first baseman — dashed toward the mound. Both gave each other the meanest look.
“We went back to our positions,” Kinsley said, “and looked at each other again and just started laughing at the fact we had just given each other those looks because we were the best of friends.”
Then there are the times when Marlana just stands and laughs as she watches Kinsley spell out random names or things she sees with sign language. They’ve always found reasons to laugh together.
But I think their close friendship was summed up best over the course of a summer five years ago. During a Disney tournament, Marlana’s mother’s air conditioner in her van went out, and Kinsley’s mom, Kirstin, described the weather like it was 150 degrees on a daily basis. Because they wanted to be together, Kinsley chose to ride with Marlana throughout that entire summer.
Both families consider the other as family. I’m sure Kinsley nor Marlana knocks on the other’s door or asks to go into the refrigerator. And, as they continue throughout life, the other will always be there, and they will always have the game of softball to thank for a friendship that has made them sisters.
