Sixteen-year-old Maddie Anderson will pitch in the 2021 PONY International World Series in Deer Park, Texas, later this month. Submitted photo

Since she was young, Maddie Anderson has found herself at home in the circle on a softball diamond.

The 16-year-old right-hander, who just finished her sophomore year at Chautauqua Lake Central School, developed a passion for softball, and pitching in particular, almost immediately as a kid.

That fondness for the sport has only grown since.

Thanks to her appreciation for softball, combined with her supreme work ethic and natural ability, she has earned the rare chance to pitch in the 2021 PONY International World Series in Deer Park, Texas.

“I just love the game and I love pitching,” Anderson emphasized. “I pitch twice a week with my pitching coach (and) I love to throw different pitches. This past year, during COVID, I actually practiced in my own gym in the house and I have a pitching mound built outside. … I just love pitching so much.”

The tournament is slated to begin on July 22 and run through July 25. According to an official flyer on the event’s website, teams from the United States, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Russia, Korea, Europe, Japan and the Philippines will compete. There will be multiple age brackets, but Anderson will be playing with the Hornets Fast Pitch team based out of Texas in the 18-and-under bracket.

As far as being selected for the 2021 PONY International World Series, that process started several years ago when Anderson traveled down to the University of Texas to take part in an elite showcase camp. She was named the top pitcher in her age group and her stellar performance caught the attention of a multitude of coaches, including Jay Mendoza, the coach of the Hornets Fast Pitch team that Anderson will play with in Texas.

Locally, Anderson has honed her skills with the successful Southern Tier Elite program coached by Darin Beckerink.

Her demeanor in the circle has always stuck out to Beckerink.

“She is a hard-working kid,” Beckerink stressed. “They have their own gym up at their house and she is always pitching. Always pitching. … She is kind of our go-to girl. It has been a joy having her. Like I said, she works really hard to pitch and she always seems to want the big games. She probably throws her best in her biggest games.”

The pitching coach Anderson works with extensively is Tabatha Stenstrom.

“Maddie has always been able to hold her composure no matter what,” Stenstrom emphasized. “She has a quiet confidence about her that eases the minds of the rest of her teammates. She is dedicated to the sport and to her position. Maddie has impeccable rotation. She throws the majority of her pitches on a rotation that allows the ball to move in just a way that maneuvers away from the batter at just the right time.”

Stenstrom added: “This opportunity for Maddie is essential for her continued growth. Being from a small area, it is always important to push an athlete out of their comfort zone. To meet new teammates, to play in conditions they are not used to, and at a level they may not be used to playing in. I know Maddie will shine no matter the conditions and it is her quiet confidence and drive that will pull her through.”

On a huge stage against teams from all around the world, the 2021 PONY International World Series seems like it could potentially be a perfect platform for Anderson to once again display what she is capable of in front of countless coaches at the collegiate level.

“I was very excited when I found out,” Anderson said when asked about her initial reaction to being selected for the event. “I probably would not have been able to have an opportunity like this unless I went down to Texas for that (showcase) camp and that coach saw me. I was just thrilled.”