It's mid-December 2018 and Cara Martin is at the Pitch Perfect Softball Academy, which is located three miles from Binghamton University. She opened up the academy earlier in the fall and is in the middle of a week in which she will coach 30 girls -- ranging from youth age to college players -- in the aspects of pitching. Martin oversees a staff of five other local coaches, who work with players on the other fundamentals of softball.

It has been nearly four years since Martin helped lead Binghamton to the 2015 America East softball championship and almost three years since she concluded her senior season. Wearing Binghamton gear, she remains deeply appreciative of what the Bearcat program has meant to her.  

In the fall of 2012, however, things were very different for Martin. She played her freshman year of college softball at the University of Rhode Island but left at the start of her sophomore year. Originally from nearby Windsor, New York, she was missing home. When she subsequently enrolled at Binghamton University to take classes, she was convinced that her softball days were behind her.

"I honestly felt I would never set foot on a softball field again," she said. "To me, it seemed like I was done with that chapter in my life and I wanted to focus on academics. I thought I was going to law school, so I wanted to major in PPL (Philosophy, Politics and Law). I still wanted to be involved in athletics but I thought I would go into sports law."

So much has happened in Martin's life the past six years. She rediscovered a love for a sport she had grown up playing. That initial love started less than 15 minutes from Binghamton University. It continues today less than five minutes from campus.

Beginnings

Growing up in Windsor, softball was actually not the first competitive sport Martin took part in. Instead, it was swimming.

 "Swimming was my first sport and I started it when I was six years old," she said. "I loved swimming so much and when I was little, you had to literally drag me out of the pool when my hands were pruned. I never wanted to get out of the pool."

Jessica Bump, who is the current Assistant Softball Coach at Binghamton, first met Martin during their youth swimming days. She has vivid memories of Martin from back then, both as a competitor and a friend.

"We always laugh about our time as swimmers, because as much as it is a team sport, she and I were always competing against each other to be the best," Bump said. "But looking back, that competition is what made us both excel. Even when we had those days in the pool where we were competing against each other -- and at times, we were a bit too competitive -- she was always the first one to give me a high five after a race."

When she was nine, Martin started playing softball and was on travel ball teams in the local area. By the time she was at Windsor High School, she was on both the softball and swimming teams. At that point, however, Martin knew what sport she would most likely play in college.

"When I was a freshman in high school, I had been swimming for longer than I played softball," she said. "Still, I had put more hours into softball. I was leaning towards softball as the sport I'd play after high school. But swimming was in the back of my mind."

Windsor High School has long been known for its championship-caliber softball program. When Martin first joined its varsity team, she found a group of veteran teammates eager to show her the ropes.

"I was brought up to the varsity team in ninth grade and got to see how good the seniors were at guiding and developing younger players," she said. "A lot of programs struggle when they bring up younger players to the varsity team but at Windsor, a couple of the seniors took me under their wings so I was able to get comfortable right away. It played a big role in how I want to develop the players I work with today."

One of Martin's teammates at Windsor was Bump, who was a grade ahead of her. Martin's one-time competitor in the pool got to see first-hand what she was like as a person.

"On the softball field, Cara could've given up three runs in an inning, but she was always up on the fence encouraging her teammates," she said. "Her support and positivity have always been things that I love about her."

Martin was a key part of Windsor's New York State (NYS) championship teams in both her freshman and senior seasons. In her final year, she was also named the NYS Class B Player of the Year.

"When Cara was on the mound, you knew she was always going to keep us in games because of her competitive drive and will to win," Bump said. "No matter what was going on in the game, good or bad, she was composed, which is a quality that goes a long way in softball, especially as a pitcher."

Hiatus

Martin loved growing up in Windsor but when it came time to go away to college – and play softball at the next level – she felt that she was ready for a new adventure. Eventually, she signed a National Letter of Intent (NLI) at Rhode Island.

"I was pretty sure I wanted to go down south," she said. "In the end, I was recruited by Rhode Island which was five hours away. It was a good experience because I wasn't able to come home every weekend. But I am more of a home body and I love this community."

Martin returned home in the fall of 2012 and hit the ground running. Besides enrolling at Binghamton University, she became actively involved in her church and worked at a local restaurant.

Getting back into softball in any capacity, however, would take longer. Eventually, she started working with Dale Cook, a private pitching instructor who she played travel ball for throughout high school.  
 "It took me a little time after I got back before I starting coaching," she said. "After a few months, I was asked to come back and help coach a youth team that I worked with growing up. But I still didn't have the intention of playing again."

Nearly two more years had passed and Martin was still convinced that her playing days were over. She was still coaching a youth team but had little desire to play. That all changed in the spring of 2014, when she and her dad were on a softball field and out of the blue, asked him if they could go pitch.  

 "I threw the ball for about a half an hour and it felt great," she said. "The next day I was thinking that I really wanted to pitch again. After that, I started pitching all summer."

There was another factor in Martin's desire to play again. It stemmed from the players that she coached.

"I was watching all of the girls that I coached and saw how excited they got when they figured something out," she said. "I thought about how that was me at one time."

Another Chance

In the summer of 2014, Martin reached out to the Binghamton softball program. Her mentality was much different than when she returned from Rhode Island two years earlier.

"I was 1000 percent committed," she said. "I had fallen in love with the game again."

Martin knew where her commitment level was at but she still needed to convince the Binghamton coaching staff. Binghamton head coach Michelle Johnston met with Martin and eventually realized how serious she was about returning.

"Cara had been out of softball for a while, so I was uncertain that she knew what she really wanted," she said. "After we had a chance to meet in person, I knew that she was serious about playing again. She just wanted a chance."

Martin's prospects for a return become even better when Johnston reached out to her late that summer. The Bearcats had lost their top pitcher to graduation and one of their other returners had left the team. Binghamton's pitching staff was thin and Johnston told Martin that if she was serious about coming back, there was a spot on the team for her.

In August 2014, Martin officially joined the Binghamton program. Unlike four years earlier, when she arrived at Rhode Island as a highly recruited player, she came to Binghamton as a walk-on. If anything, however, the biggest difference for Martin was her motivation.

"I felt like I was more self-driven than before," she said. "I was able to push myself more. I knew I had another chance. I was so appreciative for the opportunity Michelle had given me."

For those who had known Martin for years, there was no doubt that she would make the most of her opportunity.

 "I was excited when I heard Cara was coming back to play," Bump said. "Even though she took some time off from the game, I knew she would jump right in, make up for lost time and make an impact on the program right away because of her work ethic, competitiveness and will to win."

A Welcome Addition

When Martin joined the Binghamton program, it was in a transitional stage. In addition to being thin in terms of pitching, it had lost a significant senior class to graduation the previous spring.

Martin eventually became one of the team's top pitchers. She went 10-4 in 2015 and recorded a pair of saves. Twice during that season, she was named the America East Pitcher of the Week.

"Cara worked really hard at everything she did," Johnston said. "She worked to perfect her drop ball and she became such a valuable addition to our pitching staff. In the beginning, we were using her more as a closer but her role started to change because of how consistent and effective she was."

Early in the season, Martin faced one of her stiffest tests at nationally-ranked Arizona State. She pitched over seven shutout innings against the Sun Devils. In the end, the Bearcats lost a 1-0 decision in eight innings but Martin had shown herself and her teammates that she could still pitch.

"I remember crying afterwards because I had never had to stay focused for that long," she said. "It was an awesome opportunity for me to pitch against Arizona State, even though we lost. I had never had to keep my concentration for that long before."

Caitlyn Friis was a senior captain on that year's squad. She has vivid memories of what that game showed the team about Martin.

"Cara is a leader and she showed us that against Arizona State," she said." On the mound, she had a presence that we most definitely needed. Taking that team into extra innings tied 0-0 is no small feat and that certainly gave us confidence in Cara on the mound for the remainder of the season."

Martin was even more valuable to her teammates off the mound during her first season at Binghamton.

Sydney Harbaugh was a junior on the 2015 team. Over the years, she has seen Martin support her teammates even in the toughest of times.

"Cara has been there for me since the day I met her," she said. "She helped me through one of the absolute toughest times of my life my senior year when I got sick. She is the kind of person and friend that will give you the shirt off her back if you need it and I know that I can always count on her."

Even though she was a senior captain, Friis also leaned on Martin at times for support.

"I can remember some days that I would be missing my family or I would be just a bit homesick and Cara was always the first phone call I would make," she said. "Going to her house always gave me the relief I needed. It was my home away from home."

Jessica Rutherford was a freshman on that year's team. Like Martin, she was also a newcomer but she soon saw her in the same way the veterans did.

"Cara is one of the most genuine teammates I have ever had the pleasure of playing with," she said. "She was supportive and was there to pick up everyone when they were down. She respected everyone and the game itself. She was a great role model to look up to."

Championship Run

From 2011-14, the Bearcats had established themselves as a successful team during the regular season but had yet to win an America East championship. Binghamton had averaged 24 wins during that four year stretch but entering the 2015 conference tournament, was still searching for that elusive title. 

Binghamton entered the 2015 America East Tournament with few expectations. Although they were the third seed and had won seven of their last 10 regular-season games, top-seed and host Stony Brook as well as defending champion Albany appeared to have the edge.

Led by Martin and freshman pitcher Sarah Miller, however, Binghamton advanced to the America East finals for the first time in program history. Needing a pair of wins in the championship round, Binghamton stayed alive with a 5-2 victory over Stony Brook to force a winner-take-all game.

In the climactic game, the Bearcats were clinging to a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning when Martin came on in relief. She got Binghamton out of a jam and then watched from the dugout as the Bearcat offense took over. Friis smacked a two-run double in the top of the sixth inning and Harbaugh followed with a three-run home run. By the time the game reached the bottom of the seventh inning, Binghamton was ahead 9-2.

"It was amazing to see," Martin said. "We kept hitting the ball well and as the pitcher in the game at the time, it was great to see the team so confident at the plate."

Martin remained on the mound in the bottom of the seventh inning and although Stony Brook got a run back, she continued to throw effectively. With two outs and two strikes, Martin delivered the biggest pitch – not just of her life but in the history of the Bearcat program.

As soon as the Stony Brook batter swung and missed, Martin's journey had come full circle. She was more than a Division I softball player. She was an America East champion and had helped lift her team to heights that it had previously been unable to achieve.

 "After the girl swung and missed, it took me forever to figure out what happened," she said. "When Lisa Cadogan (the Binghamton catcher) threw the ball up in the air and everyone ran on the field, it hit me that we had just won."

"The most important pitch Cara threw all game was the low outside drop ball for strike three in the final inning of the game," Harbaugh said. "She sealed the deal for us."

"In my mind, Cara getting the final strikeout is a testament to the all the great qualities about her," Bump said. "She went from not playing softball for a few years, to being an integral part of a team who won the America East Tournament for the first time in program history. It's a pretty cool story."

It wasn't until a few days later that Martin realized the magnitude of what she had accomplished.

"We were in total celebration mode on the bus ride home from Stony Brook, so I hadn't really reflected back," she said. "But when I had an interview with a reporter the next day, it started to sink in. To go from coming back from Rhode Island, being out of the game and working hard to get on the team and winning a championship, it was really special."

A New Venture

Even though she had come full circle, Martin still had one year left at Binghamton. As a senior in 2016, she went 12-5 and recorded three saves. With all but one player returning from the championship squad, Binghamton won its first-ever America East regular-season championship and earned the right to host the conference tournament as the top seed.

Binghamton was dethroned by Maine in the 2016 America East Tournament and Martin's playing career ended on a tough note. But her memories of being a part of the Bearcat program would last far beyond graduation.

"We were all super close to each other," she said. "We fought for each other on the field and always supported each other as teammates and friends. There were no cliques on the field. Some people were going to be better friends off the field but on the field, you would think that everyone was talking to each other 24/7."

Martin stayed at Binghamton University and earned her Master's Degree in student affairs administration in December 2017. During that time, she worked in the Events Center and did an internship with the Student Athlete Success Center.

While she was no longer playing college softball, Martin continued to give private pitching lessons while pursuing her master's degree. The fire she had for the game was still burning bright.

The year after finishing grad school, Martin was at another crossroad in her life. She liked what she was doing with academic advising but wanted to expand her work with softball lessons.

"I liked what I was doing with academic advising but I didn't want to give up giving pitching lessons," she said. "It takes up a lot more time than nights and weekends. My first passion was still softball."

Martin also saw a need in the local softball community for something greater than just private lessons. When a facility became available for rent in nearby Vestal, that sparked her decision to open up the softball academy.

"When Cara told me she was going to open up this facility, she told me a big part of her decision was because she wanted to give back to the community that gave her so much," Bump said. "Section IV has always had great representation in the New York State championship and has sent a lot of girls to colleges of all levels to compete. Cara's desire was to help girls reach that next level."

Martin may not be in school anymore but she remains a student at heart.

"I've always loved school and learning new things," she said. "So I've been able to combine my love of learning with my love of softball in my current business. I am constantly reading articles and watching videos and going to different conferences and clinics when I can. I love taking new things and making them applicable to my students."

Not surprisingly, Martin's former teammates and coaches are all on board with her newest venture. Some of them are even part of her team of coaches.

"Cara opening up the pitching academy is a blessing to the local softball community," Rutherford said. "She is a very special individual who has the ability to connect with individuals while teaching them the fundamentals of the game. Cara is the perfect person to open the academy and I look forward to seeing her success in the future."

"I am and have been excited to watch Cara put together the Pitch Perfect Academy," Harbaugh said. "It's great seeing her give back to the local community and continue to develop young girls to play the sport that she loves."

"It makes me happy to see Cara as happy as she is right now starting her new business," Johnston said. "Cara is someone that will be successful in whatever it is she wants to do. I'm happy that her experience at Binghamton has contributed to this path she has chosen."

Looking Back and Moving Forward

While she is excited about the future, it is the past that has played a big role in who Martin is today. The long journey she took from leaving softball for two years to her return with Binghamton gives her a perspective she can use in her current role.

"I wouldn't give up what I went through for anything because it has gotten me to where I am now," she said. "It will help me relate better to my players, especially some of my younger players who are going through things."

Martin's teammates and friends also look back at her Binghamton career as a testament to the player she was and the person she is.

"I think Cara's career shows her determination and that really, if you want something bad enough, you can make it happen," Harbaugh said. "She worked hard to earn a spot on the Binghamton team and she worked hard every day after that to become the pitcher she was for us."

"Cara's career speaks volumes to the type of person that she is," Friis said. "She is always up for beating new challenges and it did not surprise me one bit that she was the person who recorded the last out of our (2015) America East championship."

As for Martin, she fully credits her years at Binghamton University with getting her to where she is today.

"I would not have opened this facility if I didn't get that chance to play at Binghamton," she said. "My two years at Binghamton were such a great experience for me. My love for the game grew 10 fold there. We were so close then and my teammates and I are still my best friends. They have all been very supportive of what I am doing. I wouldn't be where I am today had I not played at Binghamton University."