The distance from the pine tree to the property line in the Tasiemski family’s back yard measured 40 feet.

Just right.

The making of one of Bay County’s most accomplished softball pitchers was going to happen right here. It wasn’t going to happen quickly or easily, but Denise Tasiemski was determined to define home-grown talent.

“My dad was my catcher and he’d take a bucket of balls to the back yard,” she said. “And the amount of balls he caught was probably five compared to 50 that went in the neighbor’s yard. And my mom – who was always my biggest cheerleader -- would be sitting on the back porch going ‘That was a good one!’

“I put in lots of practice and threw lots of balls that hit everything but the catcher’s mitt. But I finally found that strike zone.”

Once Tasiemski found her c

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