CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea -- It was getting dark as misty clouds came rolling in. The astro-turf was soft but stiff, and a smell of leather gloves was distinct. A Soldier named Courtney stepped onto the field with her chest out ready to get started. An arm came back and snapped forward releasing a ball through the air. A loud smack could be heard as Courtney caught the softball with her glove.
First Lt. Courtney Clausi, a native of Ashland, Va. and the assistant personnel officer for the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade, had softball practice July 21 at a softball field on Camp Humphreys in the Republic of Korea. Clausi isn't your typical softball player though. She has been selected to compete at a trial to be a part of the All-Army Softball Team.
Clausi grew up in a military family and always knew that she would one day follow that same path.
She began playing baseball around 20 years ago and fell in love with the sport.
"Both of my parents played softball and they really pushed me to play hard," Clausi said.
As she got older, Clausi being a female was pushed away from baseball and into softball.
"Softball grows on you," she said. "My competitive attitude made me want to be the best and I love working with a team."
Clausi played softball through high school and into college at the Mary Baldwin College in Stanton, Va.
After earning a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science degree, she commissioned into the U.S. Army as UH-60 Blackhawk pilot. She arrived to Korea in 2014 and immediately linked up with a member of the Camp Humphrey's woman's softball team which she has now been a part of for two seasons.
Some of the players on the post team who had previously played for the All-Army team and told Clausi she would have a great chance of making the team. She said she then decided that it would be a great opportunity and sent in her application packet.
Clausi is now waiting until the end of August when she will go compete in a field of around 30 other women who will be narrowed down to 16 players.
She said she is very excited for this chance to represent the Army and feels confident that she can make the team.
Clausi said she wants to make a career out of the Army and wants to play softball for as long as she can.
"I love being a pilot and being with Soldiers," Clausi said. "The Army and Softball go hand and hand for me because I want to leave a legacy as both a Soldier and player."
Clausi said she plans on one day retiring from the Army and becoming a softball coach so she can pass on all of her knowledge of the sport to the next generation.
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