Abby Braby, 10, had to wait nearly a month before she found out she advanced to the Major League Baseball Pitch, Hit & Run National Finals during the All-Star week in Cincinnati, but eventually, her name was called. She was selected to compete in the finals and participate in the Home Run Derby by being in the outfield catching fly balls off the bats of American and National League All-Stars.
"I was just praying I'd get my name called on national television," said Braby.
The Team Championships took place on May 30 at Busch Stadium, and the announcement for the National Finals came on June 28, live on the MLB Network. Even though Braby won the 9-10 year old softball division in St. Louis, beating out competitors from eastern Missouri and western Illinois, she still had to wait and see if she was in the top-three in her division out of the 30 Team Championships held at every MLB ball park.
But before she even had the chance in St. Louis, the California native had to first win on the local level in Tipton, then at sectionals in Jefferson City. She advanced to sectionals last year, but according to Braby, got her butt kicked. So, when it came time for this year's local level competition, she wasn't ready mentally.
"I did it the year before and got my butt kicked in Jefferson City," Braby said. "I didn't think I'd make it this far. I wasn't really excited doing the whole thing in Tipton, I was sort of tired."
Instead of having to win the overall competition in Tipton, the winners of each of the three events moved on to Jefferson City. That's different from last year, and it saved Braby. Last year she had to win out-right. Braby went on to win the running event to advance to sectionals, as she considered herself lucky.
She then would have to win overall in Jefferson City, and be in the top-three of everybody in the Cardinals' region. Even with her advancing to St. Louis, she wasn't thinking about the National Finals.
"No, not really, because I didn't even think about going to the All-Star game," Braby said with a laugh when asked about if the National Finals crossed her mind.
"I was just thinking about if I was going to get first place at St. Louis."
The entire program is made up of three events. First, Braby had to be timed running from second base to home. Second, she had to hit a MLB strike zone from 35-feet away, then a ball is placed on a batting tee and is hit as straight up the middle as possible. For however many feet the ball is off the straight line, it's taken off the total distance the ball traveled.
With the first place finish already in her pocket, the month-long wait began to see if she would move on to Cincinnati. Once she saw her name, her mom knew she was about to experience something she'll never forget.
"I just so proud of what she's done," said Dana Braby. "I never would have thought she would have ever gotten that far, because at first it was just friendly competition in Tipton against her friends. It was a wonderful experience for her, and we just had a blast. Once in a lifetime thing."
While winning was on her mind at the National Finals, as she tried her best to stay fit, she focused on hanging out with the other 24 participates at Fan Fest.
"It was pretty fun," Abby said. "They were awesome. I got to know some of the people and they were really nice."
The National Finals were scheduled for the afternoon before the Home Run Derby, but thunderstorms forced them to postpone it until the next day after only doing the running event. She then turned her attention to the Derby and getting an opportunity to catch a fly ball.
"I obviously thought I wasn't going to get one, because there were a bunch of kids," Abby said. "We were all running around and it was pretty cool. I caught one so I was pretty excited about that."
When the finals resumed, Abby finished second of the three finalist, but that still didn't cap off her amazing experience. Meeting San Francisco Giants legend Willie Mays in the Dayton, Ohio airport on her way home would finish things off.
These type of events aren't new for Abby. She competed in the NFL Punt, Pass & Kick last Fall, finishing in second place at the Rams' Team Championships.
Next year, Abby will move up to the 11-12 softball division, and she'll still compete in the program, but there's going to be an obstacle to hurdle.
"The thing is, I have to go against this girl named Zoey Barns that also got first place with me in St. Louis, but unfortunately, she didn't make (the National Finals)," Abby said.