By Kiara Doyal, The Seattle Medium
In a sport where representation still lags behind, Amelie LaPorte-Manahan, a sophomore softball player at Seattle Prep, is determined to make her mark—and inspire others to follow.
According to NCAA data, only 6% of college softball players are Black. While Black athletes thrive across nearly every other sport, the numbers in softball remain surprisingly low. For LaPorte-Manahan, the reasons behind the gap are clear.
LaPorte-Manahan said that a lack of generational history in softball, combined with the difficulty of playing the sport casually, limits participation among Black athletes. Unlike basketball, where it’s easy to join a pick-up game at a local court, softball requires more equipment and structured opportunities. She also noted that as players grow older, the sport becomes significantly more expensive—a major equity issue that disproportionately affects communities of color. Select team fees, gear, and showcase camps represent a large financial burden, and LaPorte-Manahan pointed out that greater investments are needed to attract a more diverse group of athletes.
Although softball has traditionally lacked representation for Black girls, LaPorte-Manahan, sparked by an invitation from a friend, began playing the sport she loves back in second grade.
“The only reason I started playing was because my friend, who was white, invited me to play with her, and I had a good experience,” said LaPorte-Manahan. “When I first started, I didn’t know anything about the game and that it wasn’t a sport that most Black girls didn’t play. As I played more and at a higher level, it became impossible not to notice how few Black girls played softball.”
While LaPorte-Manahan had her pick of sports, she was drawn into softball by the welcoming and supportive atmosphere she’s experienced throughout the years.
“I played soccer and basketball for most of my life, but I love the game of softball. I have been blessed with supportive teammates and coaches, starting in the little league and extending through my high school and club team. The people around you have a lot to do with getting you into the sport and how long you stay in a sport,” said LaPorte-Manahan. “Being supported by people who build you up and help you move past an error or a strikeout is the difference between success and failure.”
LaPorte-Manahan refuses to let the statistics of Black girls in softball deter her. Instead, she stays focused on developing and showcasing her skills as she chases her dream of playing at the collegiate level.
“I love the sport. I wish more Black girls played, but I won’t stop playing the sport just because they don’t,” said LaPorte-Manahan. “I have never been on a softball team with a lot of diversity, but I still continue to play.”
“I would love to play at the college level,” she added. “Several HBCUs have softball teams, and although it is still very rare, a few colleges have Black coaches, and I hope that will grow over the years.”
As one of the few Black players taking the field to play softball, LaPorte-Manahan knows that she is constantly in the spotlight and can be quickly elevated or scrutinized for her successes and failures. However, she also knows that prioritizing her mental health and staying grounded will allow her to focus on playing the game and having fun at the same time.
“Softball is a game of failure, and I am still working on letting go of bad plays and strikeouts. I know that the umpires and even other players will remember me, which means that I need to be more careful than my peers do about how I respond or react to challenging situations on the field, which is hard,” LaPorte-Manahan said. “With so few umpires, how they feel about you will follow from game to game, and that is true with players and coaches from other teams as well.”
“I just need to be aware of my actions on the field, because there really is no hiding, as I can’t blend in,” she continued.
With more Black girls beginning to play softball at higher levels, LaPorte-Manahan is passionate about raising awareness around the continued lack of representation in the sport. She encourages young Black girls to give softball a try—reminding them that they belong on the field and can truly excel in the game.
“I think that there needs to be more images of Black girls playing softball across platforms, because it is hard to see yourself doing something when you haven’t seen it done by people who look like you,” said LaPorte-Manahan. “I am grateful to the Seattle Medium for trying to spread awareness, because that is huge! It is harder than many may think to find opportunities to connect through softball, and it would be nice to have a support network for girls who look like me.”
