Softball was never supposed to take Amanda Handa this far.
She began playing when she was eight, forming a dynamic duo with her twin brother, Gabriel.
What started as a simple family activity blossomed into a passion that would shape her future.
“I didn’t know I could go this far because I started playing just for fun,” Handa said. “But as I improved, I realized I was actually pretty good at it.”
However, chasing that dream in Curitiba, Brazil came with its challenges. Unlike the more popular sports such as soccer and basketball, softball is still a developing sport in South America.
“Because it’s not a very well-known sport in Brazil, we don’t have much structure or even support from the government or the public,” the 18-year-old said. “Across the entire country, there are only about eight teams in each category.”
But the sport is gaining popularity outside its traditional base, with the Confederação Brasileira de Beisebol e Softbol hosting development clinics in the São Paulo area, attracting more than 200 children.
Handa is part of the new population eager to play the sport in Brazil. Her growth eventually opened an opportunity for her — the chance to play and study in the United States at Miami Dade College.
For Handa, the biggest adjustment wasn’t on the field—it was finding her voice off of it.
“The hardest part for me was speaking English,” Handa said. “I could understand it, but expressing myself was a challenge at first.”
Despite the language barrier, Handa leaned on the same mindset that helped her grow as an athlete: patience, focus and resilience.
Her English is still progressing—she felt more comfortable doing the interview for this story in Portuguese—but it’s gradually improving.
However, her confidence on the field is unquestioned. Last season, despite sitting behind the team’s top pitcher, Carina Amarilla, who was 16-8 with a 1.74 ERA, Handa watched and learned, finishing the season with a 5-5 record and a sterling 1.74 ERA in 44 innings of duty.
This season as the team’s top pitcher, her career has taken flight. The sophomore has been a steady force on the circle, posting a 16–9 record with an impressive 1.73 ERA.
Through 141.1 innings pitched, she has struck out 135 batters while maintaining a 1.11 WHIP, showcasing both her durability and control. She has also shown an ability to handle high-pressure situations.
Handa’s play is a big reason for the Lady Sharks 26-15 record this season. The team has won six of its last seven games and Handa is 4-0 during that stretch.
“When she’s doing well, she gets hyped and we all feed off that energy,” said Lady Sharks outfielder Ebba Eriksson. “It lifts everyone. When she’s pitching like that, we know we have to do our part at the plate so we can win.”
One of the interviews for this story was conducted in Portuguese by photojournalist Lucas Duarte who is from São Paulo, Brazil.
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