WOODS CROSS—Jade Valdez is just days away from completing her requirements for the Gold Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Girls Scouts of America. As a member of Troop 2511 in Bountiful, she wanted to find an issue happening in her community and create a way to make a sustainable difference. For her, it was a no-brainer.

“I started playing softball 10 years ago with the South Davis Recreation program,” the recent Woods Cross High School graduate said. “I grew up playing all sports, and I never really fit in playing soccer or dance. When I found softball, I just fell in love with the sport and the people that I met.”

She continued playing softball in the rec league for three years, but by the time she turned 11, there weren’t enough teams to keep the league sustained. So she was forced to join a competitive team, not the choice every young girl can or will make.

“I chose to stick with softball because it’s just what I love to do,” she said. “The problem with lack of recreation teams is happening throughout Utah – they just don’t have enough players to fill rosters, so they end up combining to form other teams, and some girls can’t keep playing because they don’t have transportation to the games or practices. And that means many girls don’t play, which carries over into high school.”

Jade was a member of the Wildcats’ softball team for four years, including as a ninth-grader. This year’s Woods Cross team had 20 varsity players, and Jade says probably nine of them were new to the sport – playing for the first time. Lack of exposure when they were younger, a shortage of leagues they could play and develop in, and even a limited number of ballfields for softball have all been part of the problem.

So she decided to take some action. In other words, when it comes to softball, Jade Valdez decided to play hardball.

She created a five-part plan to achieve her goal and earn that Gold Award. First was to put on community clinics where a few of her fellow softball players could help mentor young girls. The first two have been held and the third one is set for later this month in Salt Lake City. At the first one in Bountiful, 40 girls showed up, paying $10 each which Jade collected so that South Davis Rec could improve the playing conditions at Zesiger Park in Bountiful, the only designated softball park in the area and one whose dimensions are too small for girls over age 10.

 Her second effort was creating an online petition (accessible at http://chng.it/bKjtvvHjL4) where she hopes to garner 200 signatures from those asking for “expanded athletic opportunities for girls in south Davis County.” As of Monday evening, she had 141 signatures, with many also pledging small donations to again help with maintenance of current facilities or creation of more playing fields for girls softball. She plans to present those petitions to city councils in both Woods Cross and Bountiful.

Thirdly, she’s reaching out via social media, has created a Facebook Group called “Utah Fast Pitch Recreation Softball,” and offers girls softball leagues a place to post about signups and clinics they are holding. 

“This was a big issue when I was young,” she said. “I played baseball for a year because I couldn’t find places to sign up for softball.”

She’s also created a YouTube channel and TikTok page with fun videos on why she loves softball, and a way to reach younger girls and help them learn more about the sport.

Her fourth part is an equipment drive, where she has collected donated used helmets, bats, gloves, catching gear, and more than 200 softballs that she’s donating to recreation programs that need it. 

“I’ve been keeping this stuff in my garage, and it’s really exciting to see because I wasn’t sure what to expect,” she said.

Finally, Jade is reaching out to the community, just spreading the word about this project, which she is wrapping up by the end of July so she can focus on getting ready for college. She will attend Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon this fall, majoring in Environmental Science. And she’s also going to play softball for the Pioneers.

“When I was younger, I was really shy,” she recalled. “I struggled making friends and finding a place where I belonged. When I joined softball, it really helped me come out of my shell. I met girls that became good friends. I had great role models as coaches. And though I was shy socially, I could stand on a pitching mound with 50 people watching me and never get nervous or anxious. It was my way of going out and doing my thing and relieving stress.”

Jade wants other young girls to have that same opportunity, and she’s working hard to make it happen.