Former UCF softball all-star Stephanie Best doesn't quite fit the profile of today's youth sport devotees.
She laughs now, remembering how most of her teenage summers in Fort Mill, South Carolina, were spent playing baseball with her brothers and going to basketball camp at nearby Winthrop College.
"I never went to softball camps growing up," she says. "Travel ball existed, but not near to the level it is now. I thought summer was family time--I didn't know any better. I didn't play travel ball until summer after my junior year (of high school). Now kids are playing travel ball at age eight."
Yet once Best picked up a softball bat and glove, she never let go. And she's not convinced that will happen any time soon.
Best became one of the first members of the UCF softball team, joining the squad in its inaugural season in 2002.
"I was actually the very first recruit at UCF when they were building the program," she says.
"This was back when you took your five official visits and then made your decision. I had taken a couple of other visits, and then I came to UCF for homecoming. It was the perfect weekend, and I was blown away.
"I loved that I could be a part of making history. That was exciting for me, that I could be part of building something new. Even as an adult I love trying to play a significant role in determining the direction of something.
"I fell in love with the school, with the University. I loved the warm weather, I knew I could train outside year-round in good weather—and I thought the campus was beautiful. I committed the last day of my visit and didn't go on the other two. I was that sure.
"It was easily four of the best years of my life. I absolutely loved my college experience. I loved being a Knight."
Best's name remains littered all over the UCF softball record book. She still holds records for career batting average (.384), runs scored (216), RBI (213), hits (285), home runs (71), slugging percentage (.756), total bases (562), on-base percentage (.487), walks (147), intentional walks (28), assists (558) and games played (272).
The slugger also holds numerous season and game records, which include her record of 11 RBI versus Army in 2003 when Best tied the NCAA record for RBI in a game after hitting three home runs, including two grand slams in the same inning.
Her 71 career home runs still rank in the NCAA Division I top 10, while her 26 round-trippers in 2005 led the nation. As a senior in 2005 she led the Knights to 47 wins and their first NCAA Championship regional appearance. During her playing career, the shortstop became the most decorated softball player in UCF history.
She was a NCAA National Woman of the Year nominee in 2005 and earned her third-consecutive Atlantic Sun Player of the Year distinction the same year. Best earned Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Southeast Region honors as a sophomore, junior and senior, while also being named to the ESPN The Magazine All-America squad the same three seasons.
Best competed professionally in National Pro Fastpitch for five seasons. In 2007 Best and the Washington Glory won the 2007 NPF Championship, the World Series of professional softball.
Next she spent five years as a UCF softball assistant coach.
"I loved my coaching experience and I learned a ton," she says. "As a college coach you wear several hats, and that really helped me in my business now."
She enjoyed one of her biggest moments in her sports career in April 2015 as she was inducted into UCF's Hall of Fame for her storybook career and record-setting numbers.
Most recently, in May 2021, Best was inducted into the Seminole County (Florida) Sports Hall of Fame. She was recognized as a key contributor to the county for the direct impact she has on youth through skill development training and college exposure opportunities.
That impact came about through Best's ownership of ProSwings, which she founded in August 2013 in nearby Longwood, Florida.
"I loved the idea of starting a business in terms of how much we could do to help mentor and develop athletes to advance to the Division I college level," she says.
"I live in an area that really, truly believes in promoting youth sports. There are thousands of kids in the Central Florida area that play softball and love softball. I was able to use the platform I had from playing and coaching at UCF and just continue on."
Best's first move was creation of a college exposure camp.
"That really took off," she says. "My thought was, 'How do I give these kids better access to (college) coaches?' We have 150 to 200 kids come to each of our camps and we will have 40-plus college coaches on site. Those kids will have better opportunities because they have more exposure to coaches."
Best's business only blossomed from there.
"Next we had kids and parents saying, 'Let us know if you guys start doing instruction, hitting or fielding lessons. So we brought in a couple more staff members and started doing private instruction. That became one of the most important things under the ProSwings umbrella.
"Then the coaches expressed an interest in quality tournaments. They told us, 'Create a small, niche, intimate environment—and then purposefully bring in the best teams in Florida and the southeast region and we will be there.'
"So now we do college exposure camps (including 50 coaches for an August camp event), private training and college exposure tournaments.
"A lot of it is relationships--a lot of my teammates from when I played pro ball are now college coaches. We are 100 percent people over product—everything is relationship-driven.
"I hope I'm doing this the rest of my life. I love what I do. Other people may think I'm crazy. It's fun for me to work our events and connect with people.
"I can picture me doing this for a long time."
Best obviously cherishes her time at UCF.
"I try to come out to (softball) games once or twice a year. This year I saw games against Florida and Wichita State.
"I love to share my story. And when I think of UCF, opportunity is the word that pops in my mind every time. I got my first opportunity as a college athlete at UCF. Same with my first coaching gig.Then being honored in the UCF Hall of Fame--are you kidding me? That alone gives me future opportunity.
"I have a footprint forever at a place that I love. That means so much."
This is a recurring series of feature pieces on former UCF student-athletes.