More than a Game: Presleigh Pilon

Presleigh Pilon doesn’t just play softball, she lives it, breathes it, and at times has to rediscover it.

From a 4-year-old girl in Southern California with rolled-up shorts and a hot pink mouth guard to a middle infielder chasing her professional dream, Pilon’s journey to the Kansas City Diamonds is rooted in resilience, faith, and unwavering passion.

“My two older sisters started playing softball and I wanted to be just like them,” Pilon said. “I want to do anything that I can to make my family proud.”

Pilon has a competitive nature and drive that is impossible to miss. From her goal to be better than her sisters to competing at Louisiana State University and Baylor University, she has always pushed herself to the next level, especially now stepping into the professional world for the first time. But, her path was never linear.

During her freshman year at LSU, Pilon suffered a concussion that forced her to step away from the game. She has always played through the pain, but this time she learned a lot by stepping back. 

“It took a lot for me to figure out who I am outside of softball,” Pilon said. “There is so much more than just the game.”

While she loves softball with everything in her, that time away pushed her to discover more about herself and the kind of player she wants to be on and off the field. Pilon took herself on a multitude of dates, learning more and more about herself beyond the field. 

Through navigating the uncertainty of the transfer portal while transferring colleges, Pilon had to rebuild her game, but also her identity.

“Who I am off the field impacts who I am on the field,” Pilon said. “It takes a lot as an athlete with so much going on, but learning to compartmentalize was crucial.”

Pilon loved her career at Baylor, but off the field she blossomed even more. Pilon majored in communication with a minor in American Sign Language, something she became deeply passionate about. 

“I took ASL in high school and loved it,” Pilon said. “The deaf community means a lot to me.”

Even after college, Pilon’s love for softball never faded, only growing stronger.

“I thought I was done with softball,” Pilon said. “I missed it and I would die to put on a uniform again.”

Now, her dream of playing on a professional team is a reality. As she prepares for her upcoming season with the Kansas City Diamonds, Pilon brings not only talent, but a mindset shaped by every high and low along the way.

“You can do anything when you put your mind to it,” Pilon said. “Your brain is so powerful. The things that you think you can do actually come true.”

As a player, she means business. Her face is fully focused on the game. However, off the field she is bubbly, charismatic, and a talented chef. Her favorite entree to make includes alfredo pasta with sausage and a side of green beans, a staple in her recipe book. 

For Pilon, home is where the field is. Whether that is playing the game, coaching in the Florida Gulf Coast League, or a graduate assistant at Southern Mississippi, Pilon is definitely making her mark on the softball world. 

“I just hope to have even half the impact that others had on me that I could have on somebody else,” Pilon said. 

Whether Pilon is working out, spending time with her family, or playing the game that's so close to her heart, she puts her all into everything. However, this journey was anything but solo. From nutritionists, family members, trainers, coaches, and teammates, Pilon has always had someone to lean on.

“It takes a village to be able to do what I’m doing,” Pilon said. “They have all paved a way for me to be who I am today.”

As she steps onto the field in a Diamonds uniform, Pilon isn’t just chasing wins but embracing every moment and giving the audience a game they don’t want to miss. 

“Once I step on that field, I ask myself how I can put on a show for everyone in the stands,” Pilon said.

For Presleigh Pilon, the answer is simple: play hard, trust in God, stay true to herself, and never forget why she started.

“I’m excited for it all,” Pilon said. "I am ready to take it all in and be ready for anything.” 

Pilon is full of spunk, ambition, and a passion for being an infielder no one can deny. Pilon was born ready for another memorable season, this time as a Diamond.