Livermore softball team seeks NorCal tourney bid in honor of late friend, cheerleader

After a tragedy sometimes being there to aid each other is all you can do For the Livermore softball group that has been the goal since March On that day Macy Perez a beloved member of the Livermore athletic group who was an integral member of the Cowboys stunt and cheer teams died at the age of of an epileptic seizure Her death profoundly affected multiple athletes at Livermore High Among those largest part directly impacted outside of Perez s teammates were two fellow juniors pitcher Kaci Norton and catcher Kymber Dao of the Livermore softball band She was the first person I met in high school Norton noted She came right up to me with a big smile and just introduced herself and from there on we bonded Norton was far from the only one Perez made a lasting first impression on Dao recalls meeting a new group of friends early during her time at Livermore and Perez was at the center of it all I met Macy at the very beginning of my freshman year of high school She and my whole friend group were new to me Dao explained She was such a bright little soul who was unfailingly fun to be around Macy was like the perfect friend There was never drama with her She was invariably there for you ready to make you laugh or run into your arms for a perfect Macy hug Norton and Dao knew Perez best among Livermore s softball players but they promptly realized how various people she had touched in the days following her death Greater part of the people on the softball crew knew and loved Macy Dao announced I never knew just how a large number of people Macy touched until her passing Macy knew everyone and she didn t just know them She made it a point to get to know them and become friends with them Livermore had a battle two days after her passing a road matchup against Newark Memorial on March It was the first of various contests the Cowboys would dedicate to Perez s memory Norton began hashtagging selected posts on the social media platform X with PlayForMacy and the entire Livermore group has taken up the cause for their friend A remembrance card for Macy Perez Courtesy of Perez family They were inevitably in and out of my house on a weekend basis Sarah Perez Macy s mother commented of the softball players Macy would call me after school and say she was going to go watch the girls do softball and then they would backing her because she was a cheerleader and she was in stunt It was cute how all the female athletes were very supportive of each other despite the disciplines varying The Cowboys players are often seen with light blue ribbons Perez s favorite color in their hair or on their visors signifying their remembrance of what Perez meant to them We hope when people see the light blue color of Macy they think of how she lived her life and how they can live like her Dao declared Macy was truly the best and it is a blessing to have had her in my life She was a perfect example of how to be a loving kind and sweet human being On March Livermore s record was - Since then the Cowboys have gone - coming together as a group in the face of tragedy We played for her and turned our season around Norton disclosed Sarah Perez noted her daughter suffered a sudden unexpected death in epilepsy SUDEP a rare circumstance where someone with epilepsy dies without a specific known cause such as drowning or injury The awareness that it s bringing to the actual ailment itself is the bigger picture here she commented It s bringing greater awareness to this infection that unfortunately a lot of people have but I don t think bulk people talk about it Nothing can fully replace the void in the players lives But the Cowboys have committed to being there for each other as they deal with the loss of a friend much sooner than multiple people their age Sometimes all they can do is reminisce I will constantly remember how she lived with love and kindness Dao noted I will miss her laugh our bonding over our favorite movies and greater part of all her hugs Macy gave the absolute best hugs She would run up to you at full speed and jump into your arms bear hugging you with the tightest the bulk comforting squeeze I would reliably spin us around a couple of times before letting her down Sometimes now I wish I had never let go No one will ever be able to give hugs like Macy did Livermore s Gianna Willes wears a ribbon in her hair as she takes a swing in the sixth inning of the North Coast Section Division I quarterfinals playoff battle at Livermore High School in Livermore Calif on Friday May Livermore defeated Alameda - Jose Carlos Fajardo Bay Area News Group Maybe not But they can try and that s what Livermore has done day by day try to make the best of the challenge ahead Every day is different in the grieving process but we all know that we are here for each other whenever we need Dao mentioned On the field Livermore finished the regular season with a - record in the East Bay Athletic League qualifying for the EBAL playoffs as the No seed The Cowboys upset top seed Carondelet - in the semifinals then beat second-seeded California - That finish secured them the No seed in the North Coast Section Division I bracket On Friday they won their opening-round battle against No Alameda completing a dramatic two-out comeback from two runs down in the sixth inning to win - Is it divine intervention Maybe What s undeniably true is that Perez changed the lives of Livermore s players and they are carrying her memory forward every time they take the field It proved that her spirit was felt on that field Sarah Perez explained of the club s light blue tribute In the Cowboys first two games after March Norton threw back-to-back complete games both Livermore wins and received the meeting ball each time After throwing a shutout on March she wrote Play for Macy on her treasured keepsake On April after a - win over Freedom Norton wrote on X Adversity is inevitable How you handle it defines you Livermore s season is defined by the Cowboys love for Perez And that love is going to last beyond this year whenever the final pitch is thrown Related Articles CIF track De La Salle s Jaden Jefferson crushes state-meet record in Carmel walks off Willow Glen in extra innings to win CCS Division III baseball championship in Santa Clara NCS champs Kate Skinner fans as Liberty beats Casa Grande to win first section title since NCS roundup Northgate routs Berean Christian to win D-IV softball title California captures NCS D-III baseball title It s an unreal feeling I thought no one on the squad besides Kaci would understand what we were going through Dao declared But to see and listen to their stories of Macy opened my eyes We bonded over Macy and we celebrated her and how she lived her life Kaci and I play for Macy every meeting and every practice I used to play softball because I loved the sport and it grew into playing so that I can get recruited in college But now I have a true reason to play Macy is the reason I play I play for her so that I can continue her story Livermore will have at least one more opportunity to honor Perez this season After losing Wednesday to No seed Casa Grande in the NCS Division I semifinals the Cowboys will host Foothill in a third-place encounter Saturday at noon for the section s final spot in the NorCal playoff bracket And if you attend you re certain to see a bunch of blue ribbons out on the field Livermore pitcher Kaci Norton celebrates with teammate Sydney Aguilar after defeating Alameda in the seventh inning of the North Coast Section Division I quarterfinals playoff meeting at Livermore High School in Livermore Calif on Friday May Livermore defeated Alameda - Jose Carlos Fajardo Bay Area News Group