BARTOW, Fla. — When you think about the views on a softball diamond, McKenzie Gibson has one of the best.

This Bartow High School senior catcher gets to see it all, albeit from behind her mask.

What You Need To Know

  •  The Bartow Yellow Jackets won the Class 6A state championship last season

  •  It was the softball program's ninth state title — only one other high school in the state has more
  •  Senior catcher McKenzie Gibson is working to help her team win it's 10th

She says there’s no other place she’d rather be, because she likes the responsibilities that come with being a catcher.

“Everything is just a big challenge, and every game is different,” McKenzie said.

If you ever need to locate McKenzie, chances are, you’ll find her on the softball field. She takes great pride in her work ethic and knows what it takes to help produce the results Bartow has enjoyed these past few seasons.

Only one other team in the state has won more titles than the Yellow Jackets. So be the best, McKenzie said you have to prepare like the best.

“You have to be a team player and you have to work really hard,” she said. “And you can’t always show your emotions and everything because you can show, but there’s a point where you just need to know it’s a team and not a you sport.”

That teamwork was never more evident than when McKenzie and her teammates won the Class 6A State Championship last season. For a program known for its numerous titles, last year’s ninth championship ended a seven-year drought, marking Bartow’s return to powerhouse status.

“We know that everyone has the target on our back and that we have to do what we did last year and become better people and know we have to work hard at everything we do,” McKenzie said.

Given the history of the program and all that’s at stake every time they take the field, McKenzie said she wears her Bartow uniform with great pride. And accepts the responsibility that comes with being a Yellow Jacket.

“It’s just knowing that someone is there for you and that they are there to help you and pick you up,” she said. “It’s just one of the best things about us.”