For the March edition of the Little League® Staff Spotlights, enjoy this first-person letter from Emily Workman, Little League Softball® Operations Coordinator, as she walks you through her journey from playing on the field to now serving Little Leaguers® across the world:
Early Days on the Softball Field
From as young as I can remember, spending the day at the ball field was one of my fondest memories. From playing on a Tee Ball field to attending games at Major League Baseball fields around the country, I always looked forward to loading up in the car for an evening at the ballpark.
It is safe to say I wouldn’t be who I am without sports. Growing up, I played a little bit of everything, but something special about softball sparked my interest. Though I played various positions through the different levels of play, my true love was pitching, which began when I was eight and continued through college. Pitching taught me so many lessons as a leader that I carried through my athletic career and into my professional career. I loved being the spark for my team, something that remains true in an office setting, too.
Sports connected me with some of the most influential people during my playing career. My coaches became mentors to me, guiding me through some of the toughest moments in my life. My teammates and friends that I made through softball are now lifelong friends who are there no matter how much distance is between us. As I reflect on that network of people I have today, I realize that without softball,l I would have missed out on so many connections.
Fortunately, I was able to continue working in sports, applying what I learned on the diamond to my everyday work life. I knew when it was time to hang up my cleats and finish playing, there was a whole other side to sports waiting. To me, working in sports is a way to hopefully allow someone else to create those lasting memories that happen on and off the field. From new relationships that flourish with teammates to enjoying a night with your family at the ballpark, this role allows me to not only give back to the next generation of athletes but also promote a space where everyone can enjoy what sports have to offer.
Before Little League
In college, I wasn’t always sure what I wanted to do after graduation. I initially planned to go on to Physical Therapy (PT) school once I finished my bachelor’s degree at Hampton University. However, due to injuries and COVID, I had the opportunity to return to Hampton for two more years of softball and to obtain my master’s degree in Sports Administration. Playing sports was always my outlet, it allowed me to escape from the realities I was facing off the field and taught me so much about myself, more than just my playing abilities. I saw firsthand the positive impact sports had on me growing up and knew I wanted to pursue a career that helped create more moments like that for the next generation of athletes.
In between practices, games, and classes, I gained valuable experience working with DICK’S Sporting Goods and The Dream Foundation in Position Sports. It was important to me that I get to see as much as possible in my time in college. Even with a loaded schedule at times, these experiences have helped me zero in on what I was passionate about.
After graduation, in 2019, I accepted my first job working with the Knoxville Smokies on the rally crew promo team. In the role, I assisted with various on-field games and promoted fan engagement throughout the stadium. This is where my passion for working in sports flourished – I love getting to provide lasting memories for families at the games in a different role. While working at the MLB All-Star Week event in Cleveland, Ohio, seeing the success of the PLAY BALL Park event really sparked my love for event operations.
I also have had the opportunity to be a softball instructor, where I get to work with athletes of all ages and abilities to prepare them for their upcoming seasons. For me, working with more than 100 athletes in this role gives me a chance to be the coach for these girls that I needed growing up. There is nothing more special than seeing not only their abilities improve but also watching their confidence continue to soar on and off the field.
Working for Little League
Although I wasn’t always sure what I ultimately wanted to do after college, two things always remained true – I loved sports, and I loved getting to support youth athletes.
In 2022, I had the opportunity to participate in the Little League World Series Residency Program, an exclusive opportunity for students at Penn State, Syracuse, and Hampton Universities to give hands-on experience leading into and during the Little League Baseball® World Series. During this experience, not only did I gain valuable work experience across various departments, but I also had the opportunity to interact with and learn from several staff members at the organization. Hearing from the staff firsthand how they enjoy their career and seeing the positive work environment that Little League creates, I was so excited to apply for the new role of Softball Operations Coordinator.
My role here at Little League was exactly what I could hope for in a dream job – supporting the next generation of athletes while growing the game of softball. Each day in my role is a new opportunity to leave a lasting impact. Near my desk, I have a picture of me and my mom before heading out to a softball tournament years ago. I look at the photo and use that as my reminder of where I have come, and where I can continue to go. My mom was always a huge supporter of everything I was doing and would always encourage me to keep going no matter what. Some days might feel long, but when it’s something you’re passionate about and enjoy doing, you never really feel like you’re working. I love the family environment that Little League International cultivates with so many people both excited for youth sports and passionate to see where female participation can continue to go.
Getting to work with the next generation of softball players and continuing to grow the sport is the best part of my job. This role has provided a lot of full-circle moments with people I grew up watching and wanting to mimic my game after, who are now the same people I get to work alongside in our efforts to grow softball.
It’s crazy to think of where a yellow ball can take you, and the people it can introduce you to. We get to travel around to different places to promote what Little League Softball has to offer and work alongside wonderful partners like the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) to bring youth athletes closer to professional athletes and plan impactful events for girls of all ages and abilities.
One of those events, and one of my favorite memories from my first year with Little League, was the third annual Girls with Game ® Experience event in October 2024, bringing softball to the iconic Howard J. Lamade Stadium. During this event, we welcomed more than 80 youth softball athletes to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, for a day full of development and memories beginning with a softball clinic and highlighted with a doubleheader featuring four premier NCAA Division I College Softball teams. Seeing the youth athletes come together from all over, all so passionate about learning more about the game they love, while getting the opportunity to interact with college and professional softball players was an experience I will never forget!
Girls with Game to me means more than just developing the athletes’ playing abilities. It celebrates the friendships made with people from all over, the memories shared on and off the diamond, and the many talents of girls and women in sports.
It’s so exciting to see how far softball has come since it was first introduced to Little League 51 years ago and I can’t wait to see where it goes in the next 50 years.
Advice for the Next Generation
One of my coaches always said, “They won’t always remember what your stats were, or what your record was, but they will always remember how you made them feel.”
Be a good teammate on and off the field. Be that person on staff that’s willing to go the extra mile to support those around you. Be that spark that helps get your team out of the rut you were in. You’re surrounded by a team for a reason, you can’t do it all on your own. Understand what each person has to offer and how you can learn from them to improve your game and your work. You’ll win some battles, and you’ll lose some, too. You learn the most in the moments of failure that will continue to impact you in those moments of success.
This feature is part of a series of Little League International Staff Spotlights, highlighting the career journey of the organization’s employees, which began during Little League’s Girls with Game 50 (#GWG50) Celebration (LittleLeague.org/GWG50) in 2024.