Canyon sophomore pitcher finds strength through loss and adversity

CANYON, Texas (KFDA) - Brooklynne Garrett has had a fantastic year on the softball field at Canyon High School, but there’s more to her story than just being a standout sophomore pitcher. After losing her father and overcoming knee surgery, she’s become a beacon of hope for the team that rallies around her every single day.

“She came in really focused, ready to go. By doing that, [it] gave us confidence,” Canyon head softball coach Styler Haddock said. “She’s very humble as well, like knowing that that’s my job, I’m going to do my job. You would think that she was probably a senior.”

Loss and resilience

Garrett’s world changed suddenly just a few months ago.

“I did lose my dad back in December. That was a really hard loss,” Garrett said. “But, now that I know he’s in a better place, I know that he’s cheering me on every single day.”

Through the adversity, she’s become a light at the end of the tunnel for those around her.

“I think they see that...whenever you think you have something bad going on, you kind of look at her and go like, man, she’s dealt with a lot,” Haddock said. “To be able to go out every time she gets a chance to get in the circle and throw or hit or just throw a bullpen, I think that she feels like she’s honoring her dad maybe a little bit.”

Garrett’s father was one of the team’s biggest supporters.

“He really loves softball. He before he passed, he would come out here. He made watch from the road. He was one of our biggest fans, you know, and of course her biggest fan,” Haddock said.

Playing with purpose

Ashlynn Reyna, a senior catcher at Canyon, said Garrett’s determination has earned her respect.

“I have a real big respect for her for being able to continue doing what she loves the most. I think softball became a bigger thing to her after all that adversity happened,” Reyna said. “I think she now plays for a bigger purpose.”

Garrett stays humble, attributing her success to those around her.

“It’s an amazing opportunity for me to play with all these girls. I think that they pushed me super hard to become who I am today,” Garrett said. “Every single player on this field...they just bring joy and they bring a smile to my face.”

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