All your favorite teams and sources in one place

Build your feed

Your Teams.
All Sources.

Build your feed

© 2024 BVM Sports. Best Version Media, LLC.

No results found.
Farragut softball’s Livingston is excelling on and off the field
Sarah Livingston has been able to build a strong reputation on the softball diamond with a balance of athleticism and smarts. (Photo: Carlos Reveiz)

Farragut softball’s Livingston is excelling on and off the field

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (BVM) — For Sarah Livingston, her memories of playing little league tee-ball and coach’s pitch stand out almost as much as the end of season pizza parties at Mr. Gatti’s restaurant. Her love for softball, and her skills, grew over the past nine years and she is now in her junior year at Farragut High School.

As a freshman, Livingston played with the varsity team in a designated hitter role and averaged .390 at the plate. She stole four bases, hit a home run, scored 27 runs, had 32 hits including eight doubles and three triples. Prior to her freshman year, Livingston’s travel ball team, the Maryville Wildcats, played in the USFA World Series in Panama City, Fla. Her team won the tournament playing in the highest bracket against teams from several southern states. Livingston pitched the winning game in 2017. The tournament hosted a parade with the teams involved, and games in the mornings and beach in the afternoons made this a memorable trip for Livingston.

In 2019, Livingston had a batting average of .404 in travel ball. Her stats that summer included 46 hits with 14 doubles and one triple, 22 RBIs and 37 runs. Last fall, she averaged .625 at the plate before the season was cut short due to the pandemic. With her play, Livingston was selected to participate in an All-Star game at the Champion’s Elite Showcase in Atlanta.

Livingston’s first ever home run was unforgettable. She showed up 30 minutes late to the game due to a time miscommunication, and after a rushed warm-up, ended up hitting a round-tripper on her first at-bat on a 0-2 count.

Her dedication to the sport is about more than hits and runs. She cherishes her teammates and the friendships she has built. She appreciates the travel that softball has afforded her all over the Southeast and to Colorado.

“There is nothing more exciting than pulling off big wins with your best friends,” Livingston said.

The only thing more impressive than her softball stats are her grades. Livingston has a 4.0 GPA and recently scored a 31 on her ACT, which is outstanding for a first attempt as a sophomore. She likely would have scored well even without enrolling in a 13-week ACT study program.

“I know how important it is to score well on the ACT if you want to give yourself a good shot at getting a scholarship in college,” Livingston said.

The junior loves history and math and is involved with the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America club at Farragut. She plans to major in pre-dentistry or biomedical sciences in college in preparation for orthodontics school.

A few years ago, during her travel season with the Powell Pirates, a fracture threatened to bench Livingston. At practice, she heard a snap in her arm while sending a ball in from the outfield. A unicameral bone cyst, a cavity within the bone filled with fluid, caused a break in the humerus bone in her throwing arm. The doctor said it had been a matter of time before she broke her arm. Since this kind of break is more common in the leg, he did not know whether she would be able to play again. Two months of sitting and waiting was difficult for this athlete. The healing process took time and Livingston had to learn to throw again. The emotional toll of knowing she broke her arm while throwing was heavy, but she persevered.

“It is an experience I use to help me know I can overcome any setbacks that I will face in my career and life,” Livingston said.

Now fully healthy, Livingston will look to bring her softball skills and her academic smarts with her to the softball diamond. Though her junior season may not be typical due to the pandemic, it is just one more hurdle for an athlete apt at clearing them — especially in softball.