The opposing batter misses the ball. Three strikes. She sighs in relief as the crowd erupts loudly.
As pitcher of the NDB Varsity Softball team, Allison Lui has consistently experienced the pressure of trying to perform her best in the seventh inning more times than she can count.
Her unwavering determination to enhance her physical and mental skills in the sport, along with her stellar performance in school, have earned her a spot on Georgetown University’s Division 1 Softball team. Both NDB’s college signing day on April 3 and her family’s celebration last November gave her the opportunity to recognize this accomplishment with family, friends and teammates.
But dating back to kindergarten, she would never expect a competitive softball interest form passed out to her in school would open the door to a sport she would learn to love and cherish. In fact, her mom even warned her of birthday parties and playdates being replaced by practices and competitions. Despite some hesitation, Lui convinced her mom that trying something new might turn out to be fun.
At just 6 years old, Lui proved her inkling was correct. She started her career in the Millbrae Girls Softball Association, where her father, Patrick Lui, coached her and her teammates. Her experience pitching and running bases at a young age is what brought out her competitive spirit, but her fondest memories come from meeting some of her closest friends – many of whom she calls family.
Throughout her time as a softball player from elementary to middle school, she also dabbled in basketball, dance and volleyball, which quickly familiarized her with juggling the responsibilities of a multi-sport athlete. She eventually transferred the foundational interpersonal skills learned in softball to playing volleyball with Encore Volleyball Club, and her athleticism proved just as powerful in her position as an outside hitter.
Still, softball was her primary sport coming into NDB as a freshman. As daunting as the prospect of being the Varsity Softball team’s pitcher felt, Lui seamlessly integrated herself into the role, eventually carrying them to multiple league victories and a Central Coast Section (CCS) Division IV finals appearance. Even after being commended by the San Mateo Daily Journal numerous times and being congratulated by her close friends, uncertainty constantly crept in, and it was her mom who opened her eyes to how impressive these feats were – a true testament to Lui’s humility.
“It think it was just a confidence thing. I went out to travel ball when I was really young, and it was just terrible … I was not remotely ready and I always had this self doubt,” she shared. “Even when I came back to Millbrae, … I didn’t know how I could compare with a lot of other people. So, that’s why, talking about it from a college perspective, I shied away from a lot more things, and my mom had to be the one to tell me that you’re never gonna know if you don’t try.”
When sophomore year came around, the Varsity Softball’s goal of earning a CCS Division IV title was clearer than ever, and Lui wanted to play a key role in the team’s development throughout the season. However, she found herself questioning her passion for the sport.
“I dealt with a lot of adversity in the game. I found myself falling out of love with the game at times and … I just got put in a lot more difficult situations that I wasn’t sure that I was ready for,” said Lui. “It kind of made me take a step back and reflect if this was something I really wanted. … Softball had never reached that point for me, like, it was always something I could depend on.”
With the help of her family’s unconditional support, the sport she learned to grow and love felt like home once again. As more and more collegiate offers came in, she opted out of playing varsity volleyball in junior year, creating more time to dial in on softball.
“I just realized that I had to put a lot more like in if this was something [playing D1 softball] I really wanted to do,” she emphasized. “That took a … mental toll and just understanding what kind of sacrifices I had to give up, … like not coming to the junior ring ceremony or other school events to go to a camp or … call a coach.”
There is no doubt that her decision paid off. On April 28, 2024, Lui posted her commitment to Georgetown on Instagram – an achievement that still feels surreal to her. Defined by her discipline and ambition, she hopes to inspire the next generation of softball players to reach their full potential.
“Go out with no regrets. I think that is such a … pivotal part of the journey,” said Lui. “A school can want you, but if you don’t want the school back, then that’s super important as well. Stay true to yourself, but also making sure that you don’t have any regrets in the process.”
