Believe it or not, high school softball practice started this week and Cornersville’s Robin Oberlander has a lot to look forward to this year and beyond as the senior third and first baseman begins her final season as a Lady Bulldog before continuing her softball and scholastic career at Jackson State Community College.

“As child I always looked up to the older girls in high school or college ball, following them along in their time as a players and couldn’t wait to be in their shoes,” Oberlander said. “And now I am.”

“However, none of this would be possible without the love and support my parents and sisters have given me, they have given me the opportunity of a lifetime, I cannot thank them enough.”

Like many girls in Marshall County, Oberlander fell in love with the game at the Richard Cashion Sports Complex in Lewisburg, beginning league softball at the age of five.

“That ball park is where I fell in love with the game and made several lifelong friends,” Oberlander said.

The goal of most players at that age is playing all-stars and Oberlander was a member of the 12U Cal Ripken All-Star Team that came in second place in the USGF Tournament in 2014.

Oberlander continued to hone her skills as a travel ball player, competing in summer and falls leagues with several different teams.

During the journey, Oberlander met Taylor Moore, who was an assistant at Martin Methodist College in Pulaski at the time and she took defensive lessons and formed a bond with Moore.

“While spending time with coach Moore I learned not only so much more about the game, but found a friend who started to show me more about life in general,” Oberlander said.

Oberlander got the break she was looking for when Moore was recently named head coach at Jackson State and the coach called on her former pupil to become a Green Jay.

“Robin is such a different type of kid,” Moore said. “She brings such a great attitude and life to the softball field. Robin is eager to learn, and finds joy in just about everything.”

Oberlander hit her first home run as an eighth-grader and like many power hitters, the joy of seeing the ball fly out of the ballpark and then touching all the bases on the trot was infectious.

“I realized I wanted to take my dream to the next level by playing college ball and keep hitting home runs,” Oberlander said. “With the help of many hitting coaches I finally found the one who was perfect for me in Shelby Burchell-Tietgens.”

Oberlander had an offensive slump in her junior year, but busted out of it thanks to her hard work with Burchell-Tietgens.

“I started working with Shelby during a slump in my batting and in no time, my hitting exploded,” Oberlander said. “She gave me back the confidence I had lost after a not so great junior year and Shelby also became a friend who I know I can turn to when times are tough and celebrate with when things go right. With her help I have so many great memories and hits.”

Moore is looking for big things from Oberlander at the plate and expects her to compete for a spot on the field when she arrives on campus next year.

“Robin will be a great first basemen in college, and she does swing a very nice bat,” Moore said. “I am excited about the addition of her bat to our future lineup.

Oberlander is appreciative of the opportunity to be a future Blue Jay and her love of the game is apparent.

“Without softball in my life I would not have met so many great people and went to so many amazing places with my team,” Oberlander said. “The game of softball has taught me more than I thought it ever could.”

“As a player you learn how to work with others, keep your cool in certain situations, have patience, dedication, and determination, and so much more than I can’t even put into words.”

When someone you look up has confidence in your abilities and gives you a chance to make them proud, most times it’s all you really need and Moore has extended that hope to Oberlander.

“Robin sparks those around her, and makes them eager to learn as well,” Moore said. “I believe this will be a game changer for us next season because Robin pushes herself to be the best that she can be, and I feel that is her greatest asset.”

“Robin goes for what Robin wants, and that's someone that I want on my team.”

Oberlander, who sports a solid 3.0 GPA at Cornersville and plans to study business at Jackson State had some words of wisdom for all the younger girls that share her dream of playing college softball, saying, “As my life as a high school ball player is coming to end, I hope that younger generations are looking up to me as I did when I was their age.”