Haleigh Dickey - Hitting Consultant for the US Virgin Island Olympic team
The Call
Back in May, the US Virgin Islands team competed in the Pan Am Games. The experience mattered — but the results made one thing clear: growth was needed. As a team, they hit .199.
By August, changes were happening. New players were being added. Some were released. And in the middle of that transition, I got a call asking if I would help with hitting.
Before anything was official, I was asked to present my approach over Zoom — first to the coaching staff and the USVI Softball Foundation’s board. Once that was approved, I turned right around and shared the same information with the players. No watered-down version. No separation between “approval” and “application.”
They loved it.
From there, I tried to give them everything I could — resources, language, structure, perspective. I wanted them to feel supported, prepared, and confident heading into this next phase. And I’ll be honest: I was nervous. Nervous it wouldn’t be enough. Nervous it might be too much.
Then I reminded myself of something simple and grounding:
This is all of me.
And that is enough.
Puerto Rico Journal
Day 1 – December 17
Well… travel is always travel. Long. A little chaotic. And somehow still exciting.
At the gate in Atlanta, I met two of our players — the first small reminder that this trip wasn’t just happening to me, but with people. When we landed in San Juan, I was greeted by one of my favorite humans in this game, Coach Donna Papa, along with several of the players. Familiar faces. Shared purpose. That feeling of, okay — we’re really here.
We waited for our charter bus, and when it finally arrived, it set the tone immediately. Spanish music blasting. Colorful lights glowing. Smiles everywhere. It felt like the island welcoming us before we ever stepped onto a field.
With more than 20 people traveling in from different places — plus traffic on the way to our lodging — we missed our original practice time slot. But honestly, no one panicked. Sometimes the game reminds you that control is an illusion, and adaptability is the real skill.
We arrived at Puerto Rico’s Olympic Training Center, where we’ll be sleeping, eating, and practicing for the next four days as we prepare to represent the US Virgin Islands. Just walking onto the grounds carried weight. This place holds purpose.
The dining hall was already set up for us: rice, beans, chicken. Simple. Nourishing. Familiar. It immediately reminded me of my college trip to Nicaragua — how sport has a way of stripping things down to what actually matters. Fuel. People. Opportunity.
By the end of the night, excitement buzzed beneath the fatigue. I didn’t need fireworks or perfect planning. I just needed to be here.
Day 2 – December 18
I woke up on my 35th birthday in Puerto Rico.
That alone felt surreal.
Instead of my usual quiet routine at home, I was surrounded by two coaches I deeply love and respect, and a group of women who care about this game the same way I do. Stepping outside my normal rhythm felt intentional — like the universe (or whatever higher power you believe in) nudging me into a new chapter and saying, this matters.
Breakfast was exactly what you’d want on a game day: ego waffles, hash browns, eggs, fruit — a true breakfast of champions.
Then it was straight to work.
We had a tight 90-minute practice window sandwiched between Mexico before us and Puerto Rico after us. With this team not having played together since May, we needed to cover defensive communication, alignment, and cohesion — fast. The original plan had been defense on the 17th and hitting on the 18th, but with travel delays, I had just 45 minutes to run hitting.
No time for perfection. Only intention.
That 45 minutes was my first time seeing all but three of the girls swing. And honestly? I loved what I saw. There was a foundation. Something real to build on.
Later that day, I learned the US Virgin Islands team was only established in 2022 — just three years ago. The country created the foundation to support and fund its Olympic softball program not long ago at all. That realization hit me hard. Being here isn’t just about coaching reps or charts. It’s about being a brick in something still being built.
There wasn’t much downtime before our first game against Mexico. Practice ended, showers happened quickly, uniforms went on, and we loaded the bus.
This time, we got to see the scenery. The night before, the sun had already set. Now, mountains and lush greenery surrounded us — Puerto Rico revealing itself slowly, like it wanted us to earn the view.
At the field, we got loose. I shagged balls, shouted reminders, offered cues — all while trying (and failing) to stop smiling. That thought kept looping in my head:
I am here doing this. Me.
International softball is a unique blend. Teams are made up of local players, mainland athletes who played college ball, young talent and seasoned pros. There are no age limitations. Our starting lineup included an 18-year-old local from the Virgin Islands in left field — and a 27-year-old professional pitcher who also coaches at Eastern Carolina.
Cohesion had to be built on the fly.
Mexico’s starting pitcher plays for Texas.
And yet — our girls came out hot. We scored early.
And standing there, charts in hand, fully locked in, I knew this was only the beginning.
On top of feeling like a new Haleigh is forming.. when we got back to Olympic Village sleeping quarters my coaches handed me a card and cupcakes- signed by the entire USVI team- showering me with gratitude for spending my day with them. I felt so appreciated and even more gratitude set in.
December 19
Last night didn’t go the way we hoped in some ways.
We jumped on Mexico early, and they answered back. Then came a nearly 90-minute rain delay — and we never fully climbed out of the hole afterward. A couple of crucial defensive errors hurt us, but offensively, we struggled in hitter’s counts and later in the game with two strikes.
But hey — that’s what they hired me for.
On the bus ride back, I handed out the game hitting charts. A few of the girls came and sat “in my office” — aka my bus seat — and we broke down their decision-making, body patterns, and timing in real time.
I. Love. This. Conversation.
Bright and early this morning brought an 8:30 a.m. practice on the Olympic training fields. I ran a 90-minute hitting session with cages and full field access — so we made the most of it.
Count work. Hard cut reps in the cages. And yes — I slung my old shoulder around to give the girls some windmill and live reps. It’s cold back home, so putting this body to work in the heat had me sweating good.
And even though my shoulder is barking and my body speaks all of 35, I loved every second of pouring into their swings — their timing, their vision, their confidence in the box.
We play Puerto Rico at 3 p.m. today.
And WE’RE ready.
December 20
Last night held a lot.
We dropped our first game to Puerto Rico and bounced back to win the second — which sends us into the semifinal at 1 p.m. today. And honestly, the results were only part of what stayed with me.
International play is different. Right now it’s less about flashy home runs or “pretty” swings and more about competing in every way possible. Bunting. Running. Pressure. Problem-solving. Relentless effort. It’s a reminder that the game doesn’t owe you style points — only honesty.
I also learned more about what the Virgin Islands are building from. Each island has just a couple of high schools, which means a very small pool of softball players to grow from. Compared to countries with much larger populations, the margin is thin. But it’s not limiting — it’s clarifying. There is room to grow, especially as more girls with Virgin Islands lineage find their way back to the game here.
What stood out most? These girls want it. They want to learn. They want to compete. They simply haven’t been exposed — yet — to some of the tools and experiences that create an edge and a deeper foundation.
One of the coolest parts of yesterday was standing in the middle of so many languages, cultures, and national flags — and realizing that none of that changes the game itself. The love for it is universal. You can’t help but smile.
In a short amount of time, I’ve grown a real sense of love and protection for this crew and these girls.
Catch us 12pm eastern time to try and clench this game from our host- Puerto Rico!
Competing Forward
We lost in the semifinal game.
But we competed — more fully and more together than we had at any point leading up to it.
We swung the bats with purpose and dominance. We created more baserunners than we had all weekend. We were challenged — and instead of folding, we fought. Over and over.
There were moments where the game was right there for us. Runners on. Bases loaded. Opportunities to take the lead. And we just missed the mark. Not because the moment was too big — but because growth under pressure takes time. Decision-making. Self-trust. Those things are built, not granted.
And even without the win, something important happened.
We showed people that we are growing. Puerto Rico is a top 10 world team!
But more importantly, the girls showed themselves that there is something here.
This federation is still finding its pieces — one at a time — and I’m grateful beyond words to be one of them.
I’ll be honest: this experience has shifted my relationship with the game itself… and with my own company. In the States, players can get caught up in levels, rankings, and the name on the front of the jersey. They lose sight of what sport can do for them — and for the world. They lose sight of the privilege of access. The stage they’re born into. What this game gives them before it ever asks anything in return.
Being here has reminded me of that truth.
After the game I hugged and thanked every board member and coach that allowed me to walk into this space this week. I shared my gratitude and hopes for this team’s future.
Their response to me with big smiles- “You are part of this team now.”
Not only did my face smile, but my heart did too. (It also smiled when I ate the delicious beef and cheese emapanadas from the concession.)
This week I have learned so much. I thought I had a good grip on international play but the conversations this week have opened my brain to so much and I am excited to learn and follow even more of the WBSC and international leagues.
I don’t know exactly where this experience will take me next. But I do know this: my chosen family just expanded. And I’m already looking forward to seeing them again next summer in the Dominican Republic.
Here’s to sport.
Here’s to softball.
And here’s to USVI Softball.
