Greenwood softball player Brilea Rofkahr ready for the collegiate level

Greenwood senior Brilea Rofkahr has a very vivid early memory of learning to play softball. If she didn’t field a ball properly, she worked to make sure it didn’t happen again.

“I realized that I really loved softball when I would be practicing or playing and I would miss a ball, and all I would want to do is practice until I didn’t miss that ball again,” Rofkahr said.

She hasn’t missed many balls since, and has developed into a player who will get the chance to play at the collegiate level. Rofkahr primarily plays shortstop and has been a starter since her sophomore year.

“My strength at the plate is I am willing to sacrifice myself for the good of the team, and will do anything to put the ball into play,” Rofkahr said. “My strength for fielding is that I am willing to lay out for any ball and put myself on the line to help my team make the play and get the outs that are needed.”

It also makes her an ideal player for Greenwood coach Donald Hart.

“Playing softball at Greenwood and for Coach Hart is tough and a challenge because you are pushed to your limits and to be better and do better every day,” Rofkahr said. “But in the end, it’s all worth it because you see what you are really made of.”

Things have been relatively good for Rofkahr and the Lady Bulldogs so far, as they lead the 5A-West and are undefeated in conference play. As of April 13, they were 14-3 overall and 8-0 in the league. She’s also enjoying being part of a senior group that brings various individual characteristics to the table.

“This year’s senior class of players is so unique because it is full of leaders and each leader’s personality stands out,” Rofkahr said. “We don’t blend together, so it helps us to be stronger and lead where another might lack.”

Rofkahr was literally born to play softball from an early age.

“I got involved in softball at 6 because my parents played softball growing up and they met playing coed, and they wanted me to give it a try,” she said.

Rofkahr originally played catcher, but a serious knee injury during her sophomore year forced her to switch to shortstop. Rofkahr’s injury also gave her motivation to never leave the field, cherishing every opportunity to play softball when she can.

“My motto every time I get onto the field is to ‘Leave it all out on the field,’” she said. “This is my motto because you never know when the last time you’re going to step on the field is. … (The knee injury) showed me to never take any game for granted or leave the question of what if.”

And she’s going to get the opportunity to keep playing softball, having signed with the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville.

“I loved how the school felt like home; I felt like I fit in well,” said Rofkahr, who carries with her a 3.97 grade-point average.

While she doesn’t play any other sports besides softball, Rofkahr stays involved in sports. Perhaps her favorite non-softball activity is going to her two brothers’ wrestling events, and records video and takes pictures of their matches.

But once Rofkahr gets back on the diamond, she wants to keep leaving it all out on the field, with her current main objective helping Greenwood make a lengthy postseason run.

“One of the key steps to making it (through the) playoffs is going to be keeping our bats alive, backing up our pitcher on the field and keeping confidence within ourselves and each other,” Rofkahr said.