'Sisters' encourage each other at West Orange Girls Club

As 16-year-old Jordan Molnar stepped up to the mound, her eyes strayed into the stands. 

She saw her parents cheering her on, but her eyes darted to one girl sitting on the ground, her “little sister.” Baylee Byrd sat there with a handmade sign, and her cheers echoed through the stands.

“I love watching her play,” Byrd said of Molnar. “It’s my favorite thing to do.”

Molnar took a moment to smile and enjoy the encouragement before she raised her arm to throw the ball. Byrd’s support is Molnar’s favorite sight during games. It gives her extra motivation to succeed and show the 10-year-old what her future in softball could look like. 

West Orange Girls Club created a mentorship program, Softball Sisters, and through it, Molnar and Byrd have grown not only as friends but as “siblings.” 

The dynamic follows a typical older and younger sister bond: Byrd looks up to Molnar as a role model and goes to her for guidance; Molnar attends Byrd’s practices to help teach her ways to grow as a player. She’s done more than just teach her about softball; her kind-hearted nature has helped to grow Byrd’s confidence. 

“One of the most rewarding parts is seeing my little sisters improve throughout the season and watching them grow as people in general,” Molnar said. 

They talk about all sorts of topics, sharing their struggles in softball and leaning on each other for motivation. Molnar’s always had a passion for teaching, and through the program, she’s grown her skills as a teacher by building relationships with younger girls. 

Their story is one of many who have benefited from participating in the Softball Sisters mentorship program at WOGC. 

SECOND SEASON

The Softball Sisters is in its early stages of development. It began in the spring season with 30 girls; it has grown 50 for the fall season. 

WOGC Secretary Andrea Byrd and Vice President Kristen Wolfe, who created the program, were inspired by their own daughters. 

Andrea Byrd’s daughter, Baylee, is on the outgoing side, while Wolfe’s daughter Micaila was shy when she first started softball. They wanted to begin a program to help break girls out of their shell and give them someone to look up to besides a coach. 

Each girl became either a mentor or mentee depending on their age. At the fall season-opening day, girls were given adoption certificates to add a new level of authenticity. 

Byrd made notes for the girls to fill out to introduce themselves to one another. The notes included background information about the girls’ softball experience and facts about them such as favorite food, singer and color. At the end, they wrote exactly what they would like to learn during the season. 

The notes helped to break the ice between girls who didn’t know one another before. Katherine McClure, 11, knew the perfect gift — gummy worms — to give her mentor based on the note she received. 

When the program began, some of the girls were nervous to be a mentor, Andrea Byrd said. They didn’t know what they would teach younger players. 

“It’s not about that,” Andrea Byrd said. “It’s about a girl coming in at 6 years old and doesn’t know how to throw or anything. Just be there for her.” 

It’s as simple as saying hi or telling them about a big play they saw them do at a game. Softball Sisters doesn’t have any requirements; everything is up to the participants. Andrea Byrd’s seen girls give each other goodie bags as well as older girls come to help at 6U practices and attend games to cheer on their younger sisters. 

“That’s been really awesome,” she said. 

Seeing the photos and videos of sisters coming together is so rewarding to Andrea Byrd. It has opened doors to younger girls talking to older girls, seniors at WOGC, that they might have been scared to otherwise. Seniors have approached 6U players on their own and talked; it goes both ways. 

“Seeing they’re making a difference in the younger girls and the older girls, having to be a mentor, does something to (them),” she said. 

Photo by Megan Bruinsma

Having fun 

If Softball Sisters could be described in one word, it’d be fun. 

Zyla Kreiling, Micaila Wolfe and Jordan Hines all are 8 years old and love having a mentor. Kreiling said her mentor pitches to her to develop her batting skills. 

They have their own cheerleaders on the sidelines, aside from their parents.

Flora Ortega and Carley Calvo said they have enjoyed becoming mentors to get to know their younger sisters better. 

The joy and fun is what brought Ortega back to be a mentor for the second time. She was Baylee Byrd’s mentor in the spring season and liked being able to hang out with her. When she sees someone at WOGC, Ortega doesn’t know much about them, but being a mentor gives her a reason to talk to different girls and develop a relationship. 

Calvo said she encourages the younger players during games. She highlights the positive plays she sees and lifts their spirits after a mistake. If she notices a mistake while they are up to bat that easily can be fixed, she will go to them and kindly tell them how to approach batting for the next time. 

The extra encouragement and coaching has helped 6-year-old Esther Brown learn quicker in her first season of softball. 

Baylee Byrd echoed that sentiment. She plays catcher, and her mentor, Molnar, is a substitute catcher, so Baylee Byrd’s learned many new tips about the position from her.

It’s been special for Calvo to share softball with a younger “sibling” since she doesn’t have any at home. She said it’s nice to have someone she can hang out with and relate to.

Ortega’s on the flip-side of that. She is one of nine kids, but her softball sister still holds a special place in her heart. 

“Siblings get on your nerves and stuff, but (with) them it’s different,” she said. “It’s kind of like a friend but they’re just younger than you.”