ROYAL CITY — A recent graduate from the Knights softball program is ready for the next step in her athletic journey. Madison Sanchez is making the move from Walla Walla to Whitworth this fall.  

“I wasn't sure if I wanted to play on and I wasn't sure if I wanted to just go to school, but I took a tour of the college with some of the players, and I got a really good insight into the team that they have ... it was awesome to watch how they all worked together and just how they all communicated like they were one big family,” Sanchez said.  

A family atmosphere has always been important to her softball experience, she said. During her time at Royal High School, she said, team chemistry and bonding are some of her favorite memories. Connection through softball has been a constant for her, even with her family.  

Since she started playing around 4 years old, softball has been a common ground for quality time with her family, she said.  

“I have an older sister, so whatever she did, I did at the same time, just a couple of years younger,” she said. “I got to be around it a lot. I got to be around my family, and it was just a fun way for us to connect... a lot of my family played sports growing up, but softball was the one love that we all found."  

Knights softball Head Coach Lisa Lawrence has known Sanchez since she was little. When Lawrence became the head coach during her senior year, she felt lucky to have the opportunity to coach Sanchez, she said.  

According to Lawrence, Sanchez is a great example of the team culture she strives to maintain with the Knights. One reason was her ability to be a leader on the team, whether it was vocally or by leading by example.  

“She just naturally has just a great way about her,” Lawrence said. “She's willing to say the hard things, sometimes when your team's goofing off or not staying on track, like that kid that can gently bring everybody back in line. If she sees someone having a hard time or struggling, she'll be the person to put her arm around you and say, ‘Hey, it'll be OK, try again,’ and she's very uplifting.” 

When Sanchez began looking at colleges throughout her senior year, she said, Walla Walla stuck out for those reasons. Warriors head coach Logan Parke and assistant coach Abby Giles sold her on the team culture. During one of her visits to the school, she met with the student activities director and from there felt the desire to become invested, she said. When she arrived on campus, she felt those integral connections developing.  

“I had families in two different ways. I had family on the team, and I had family in student activities,” Sanchez said. “I talk to a lot of the girls pretty often still. It's been a great experience just having that closeness ... I really liked that I could find my people pretty easily.” 

As she learned more about the sport growing up, Sanchez said, she fell in love with the complexities of softball. She loves how it takes the whole team to achieve success. Everyone has to do their part, or the machine does not function the right way. 

“I love that it takes so many parts to win a game. You have to be good on defense, be good on offense, and you have to come together as a team. It's reliant on so many other people, and it's not just one person,” she said.  

However, from any position on the field, her favorite is on the mound as the pitcher. She said there is so much that goes into the physical and mental aspects that lead to successful pitching. It presents a welcome challenge, and she loves having the opportunity to make a difference for her team, she said.  

One of her fondest memories with the Knights was during her senior season. They made a run all the way to the state championship game in 2023, where they fell short. However, Sanchez came out of it with lifelong memories of reaching the state championship for the first time in her career at Royal. She was just as excited to watch the Knights go back in 2024 and win it all. 

As she prepares for a new chapter at Whitworth, Sanchez plans to study business and marketing, but will also consider communications. She hopes her studies will lead to an opportunity for social media management with sports teams, either at the collegiate or the professional level.  

“I think that part of communication and outreach to people is so important, because you get an inside look into how athletes live their lives and how athletes think, and how it's not very different from regular people,” she said.  

    Knights alum Madison Sanchez readies herself to pitch for the Walla Walla Warriors. Sanchez just completed two seasons with the Warriors and will now be playing at Whitworth University.
  

    Former Knights softball player Madison Sanchez steps up to bat for the Walla Walla Warriors. Sanchez said her favorite part of softball is the team bonding and creating a family environment with coaches and teammates.
  

    Knights softball alum Madison Sanchez celebrates during a game when she was with the team. Sanchez earned co-South Central Athletic Conference Player of the Year alongside teammate Addi Lawrence.
  

    Madison Sanchez, a Knights softball alum, pitches for the team in a game during her senior season. Sanchez said her favorite memory came during her senior season when the Knights made it to the state championship game.
  

    Madison Sanchez, former softball player at Royal High School, prepares to throw a pitch during a game in her junior season. Sanchez said she looked up to her sister Makayla growing up and learned a lot from watching her.