Behind the plate, Katlyn Holloway sees the entire softball field in front of her. But for the Atoka High School junior, some of the toughest parts of catching have little to do with what happens around her.
The challenge is staying composed when a pitch, play or inning does not go as planned.
“The most difficult part of the position is definitely the mental side,” Holloway said. “You have to stay focused and composed, even when you make a mistake or things aren’t going your way. It can be mentally exhausting, but it has taught me how to stay calm under pressure and move on to the next pitch.”
When the pressure builds, Holloway has a simple reminder.
“Breathe. It’s just you and the ball,” she said.
That ability to reset has become one of the biggest lessons Holloway has taken from athletics.
“Later in life, I know there will be challenges where I won’t see immediate results, but athletics has taught me to trust the process, stay committed, and keep pushing toward the person I want to become,” Holloway said.
She credits her dad as one of the biggest influences in developing that mindset.
“He pushes me to work hard, stay disciplined, and keep going even when things get difficult,” she said. “He’s taught me that success isn’t just about talent, but about the effort you put in and the kind of person you choose to be.”
She carries that mentality into how she treats others on the field, following one sportsmanship rule: “Be gracious in victory and defeat.”
Holloway also brings plenty of personality to the Atoka dugout. She considers herself the team’s most vocal player and said Grace Kerns has a knack for making everyone laugh. She also named Sarah Barton and Kinlee Flynn among the team’s funniest players.
“There’s never a dull moment,” Holloway said. “We have fun no matter if we’re down by 10 or up by 12 runs.”
Barton has made an impact on Holloway through her work ethic.
“Sarah, she’s always been a good friend and teammate and she always inspires me with how hard she works,” Holloway said.
That connection extends throughout the team.
“We’re more than teammates; we’re family,” she said. “If somebody is having the worst day, we always know we have someone to rely on.”
Away from softball, Holloway participates in track, powerlifting, National Honor Society and community service. She also enjoys playing guitar, working out and hunting.
Holloway’s approach remains much like the one she relies on behind the plate: stay calm, keep working and move on to the next opportunity.
