By Bill Sheehan
Trish Parks, a Cal State Fullerton softball player, understands the demands of being a student-athlete. But since she added motherhood to the mix, it's been a whole new ball game for the 22-year-old.
Parks has faced myriad challenges since giving birth to a son last fall. Whether it's finding sitters to allow her to attend class, regaining her pre-pregnancy fitness levels or finding an office where she can pump breast milk during a game, the single mom has maintained a hectic pace.
But the perseverance is paying off.
The redshirt junior will graduate this spring with a sociology degree and has been accepted to grad school. She has reclaimed her spot in the Titans' pitching rotation. And she spends as much time as possible with her 6-month-old son, Kaysen Ahmad, whose father Khalil Ahmad is a member of Fullerton's basketball team.
For Parks, it indeed has taken a village to raise a child. Her parents, Jamie Vansant and Richard Parks, Ahmad's parents and her coaches and teammates have provided much-needed support.
"They all have helped out watching Kaysen when I go to school or practice, need extra sleep or I'm doing my homework. And when Khalil is available, he helps," said Parks, who lives at home with her parents in Corona. "Whenever I've needed help, I've never been turned down."
Kelly Ford, Fullerton's sixth-year softball head coach, said Parks was welcomed back to the team with open arms.
"There was a period of time when she was contemplating not coming back," said Ford. "Trish realized that she had our support and that we were all in. Our flexibility, such as limiting her practice time and other accommodations, allowed her to see it would work.
"That's life. Everyone has their own path. It's cool to be part of her journey. The players have been incredible. They are all aunties, babysitting if the need arises."
Title IX offers protections
Under Title IX, schools are required to treat pregnant and parenting students the same as they would anyone with a temporary medical condition, said Sarah Axelson, director of advocacy for the New York-based Women's Sports Foundation. For example, a pregnant athlete's status should be treated no differently than an athlete recovering from an ACL tear.
Schools are implementing policies in which everyone is treated equitably, Axelson said. "There certainly has been progress" over the years.
"In this instance, [Fullerton's] coach has taken the opportunity to see that there is a safe and healthy environment," she said. "It sounds like she has done a good job setting the tone, with her athletes supporting one another."
Parks' teammate Shianne Brannan grew up in the same Chino neighborhood as Parks and has known her since they were 6-year-olds. They played together on travel teams and at Chino Hills High School, and they teamed up again after Parks transferred to Fullerton following one year at the University of Arizona.
"Our team is a big sisterhood. When someone is in need like that, we help them out," said Brannan, a senior shortstop.
Brannan calls Parks' presence an important factor in the team's success. The Titans, 29-21 overall, have opened Big West Conference play with a 14-1 record. They travel to San Luis Obispo this weekend to play Cal Poly.
"Trish brings a different mindset. She came from the Pac-12 and expects the best out of us," said Brannan. "She really motivates the players on the team. She tries to light a fire under us."
Ford, who recently won her 200th game as the Titans' head coach, said Parks has excellent leadership skills and could easily become a coach when her playing days end. "When she gives advice to her teammates, people listen," said Ford. "It's like having a coach on the field when she is playing."
Bryanna Ybarra, a senior third-baseman, said Parks serves as an anchor for the team.
"She has a lot of God-given talent, and she has shared her softball experiences with us," said Ybarra, who along with former Fullerton player Gabrielle Rodas help coach Parks during Kaysen's birth.
"She brings another perspective, being a mom. She has taught us not to be so serious and enjoy the moment," said Ybarra. "There are a lot of ups and downs in softball, and she always has lifted me up during times when I have struggled."
Hitting Off a Tee at 3
Softball has been a lifelong passion for Parks, who began playing on a Tee-Ball team at age 3. "My cousins and my mom all played softball. I was always going to their games."
Parks played for several Southern California travel teams, including the Firecrackers, the Bat Busters and the Jynx. At Chino Hills High, she was an all-conference performer all four years, served as a co-captain with Brannan in their junior and senior years and was named the team MVP as a senior.
The 5-foot-9 righthander received many scholarship offers and picked Arizona over UCLA and Washington. As a freshman, she went 16-7 in the circle, hit .371 at the plate and earned four Pac-12 Freshman of the Week Awards during the 2015 season.
But at season's end, she decided to depart Tucson. "I loved the school and head coach Mike Candrea," said Parks, who cited differences with the pitching coach as her reason for leaving.
Once again, she received several scholarship offers before choosing Fullerton. "I wanted to play closer to home," said Parks. "My best friend, Shianne Brannan, was on the team. I knew that if she liked Fullerton, I would like it too."
Parks sat out the 2016 season at Fullerton as part of the transfer rules. She was able to work out with the team as a redshirt but couldn't suit up for games.
"It was hard. It definitely was an adjustment," said Parks, whose main role during games that year was cheering for the team. "I never had softball taken away from me."
She made it back on the diamond in 2017, appearing in 20 games as a pitcher, first baseman and pinch-hitter. Parks was 3-5 with a 5.03 earned run average and hit .220. She learned of her pregnancy in February and played through the end of April before sitting down to comply with pregnancy guidelines.
'One decision at a time'
The unexpected pregnancy took time for Parks to process. "I was shocked. I really didn't believe it," said Parks. "I had so many thoughts in my head. But I just took it one decision at a time."
One of her first decisions was to sign up for three summer classes to ensure she remained on schedule for graduating in four years. Parks took her courses online in the fall as she prepared for the birth of Kaysen, who arrived Nov. 6.
"My teammates and coaches have been there and supporting me through it all. That's the only reason that I'm here today," said Parks, who brings Keysen and a family member on road trips
along with breast pumping gear, infant clothing and other accessories. "Coach Ford has been wonderful, absolutely wonderful. I'm very thankful for her and to play for her."
By all indications, she has increased her fitness and bounced back well.
In an April doubleheader against Long Beach State, Parks started and won both games, returning as a reliever to close the second game. Last Saturday, she struck out a career-high 10 batters in a 3-2 complete-game victory against UC Davis.
Parks, who has a 7-2 record and a 3.08 ERA in 17 appearances, relies on a drop ball to induce ground-ball outs and praises her teammates for their defensive prowess.
"I'm getting stronger as I go along," said Parks, whose batting has been limited to pinch-hitting. "When I first started, I could tell I wasn't in good shape. But I feel I'm getting stronger as the weeks progress."
Ford agrees. "Trish is finding her physical groove, and now we're getting on her back."
A mother's pride
No one is more impressed with Parks' achievements than her mother.
"I'm surprised she is handling all of this with such grace," said Jamie Vansant. "She makes sure at the beginning each week that she has a plan, so that she won't become stressed out.
"She is actually doing very well. She is taking the time to work on her spins and pitches, and she has been coming on strong in the last month. And I'm super-proud she will be graduating on time."
Parks, who has a 3.76 grade point average, will begin work on her Master of Social Work at Fullerton this fall and plans to play her third and final season for the Titans next year.
"I'm fluent in sign language and had considered becoming an interpreter," said Parks. But after completing a County of Los Angeles internship working with foster children, she decided to pursue a career as a social worker. "I really want to help people," she said.
"She cares a lot about people," her mother said. "She has a big heart and wants to do big things for people."
She especially wants to do a lot for her newborn.
"Kaysen's birth was the best day of my life," said Parks. "I cherish the days when we're off and I can spend time with him. I hope that he dreams big and goes after whatever he wants."