Maria Ostapovich is a senior at Fossil Ridge High School. She was born and raised in Fort Collins. Maria has loved school but has a bigger love for softball, which she has been playing since she was 4 years old. She consistently makes an impact when she is out on the mound and she definitely did when she led her team to a third place finish in the state tournament this past fall. The team ended with a tough loss leaving Ostapovich with a bittersweet finish as that was the last time she would step on the field with her best friends. Maria will continue her softball career throughout the spring, summer and then into her next four years in college.
Ostapovich helped the team in state her freshman year as a backup pitcher and has worked her way up since. Each year she started to make more and more of an impact for the Fossil Team, starting just as an extra player she climbed to the top to become Fossil’s number one pitcher. Maria was there to help and make a difference for the team, whether that meant that she was pitching or playing in the outfield, she was a huge help to the team her sophomore and junior year in the outfield. Senior year rolled around the corner and she took the mound for the last time, each and every game Maria came out with mindset that they were going to win; such a mindset was what led the team to the state tournament. Ostapovich was a great team leader, she could always stay positive even in the worst situations. Teammate Mackenzie Bode tells us “You could always count on a smile from Maria, she always kept us so positive even when we were down.” The season had a bittersweet ending in the state tournament but that wasn’t the end for her.
As spring rolls around she will begin her last competitive season. She is a part of the Triple Crown Stars, a competitive fastpitch organization, this opportunity has really shaped her into the player is today. Ostapovich dominates when she steps onto the field whether she takes the mound or heads to the outfield. She has always had an athletic ability that has let her achieve so much; Maria is constantly known for her quickness when running and her precision when pitching. She has be very fortunate to travel all around the United States and even to Europe to play ball with this club team. Maria puts all she has into softball, dedicated is the least you could say about her passion for softball.
Ostapovich will continue her passion of being out on the mound by attending Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts. Maria recently signed her letter of intent to play for the Jumbos at Tufts, “It’s a really exciting feeling that I get to keep playing softball for the next four years,” said Ostapovich about committing to play. Not only will she get to pursue her love for softball in college but she also gets to attend a top school in the country. Maria has found a love for life sciences like Anatomy, she will get to pursue this love by going into the Pre-Med program at Tufts University. “Pre-Med has always interested me and I want to be able to help people with my career.” said Maria about her major. Ostapovich will move on to do amazing things in college, watch for her as she makes an impact at Tufts University.
