Crafting the Moments That Matter

London Dirks had no interest in making memories at another school

By Luke Zahlmann

Scale a wall, make a memory. 

A faith in her legs, positioning, and glove gave London Dirks the courage to steal away a grand slam. Against a ranked opponent, no less.

But belief in Charlotte and herself kept the outfielder where she always wanted to be.  

The moments that have made her time as a 49er special include a robbery of the Owls, but don’t stop when she steps off the field.

And they keep adding up.

“I’ve become a part of Charlotte, and it’s become such a part of me,” Dirks said. “This was always the place I wanted to be. And being close to my family, there are so many moments I didn’t want to miss — those were only possible if I stayed.”

It wasn’t an instant decision to stay through a coaching change, because how could it be?

Dirks played in 48 games for last year’s American Athletic Conference champion. Her three consecutive games with a pinch-hit to end the season included Charlotte’s win over Wichita State to seal the hardware.

The offseason brought Courtney Breault into the 49ers' driver’s seat and uncertainty for Dirks’ future, which looked to be blossoming after two years playing the role of reserve and occasional starter in the outfield.

Dirks needed a chat with her new coach before any conversation could happen around the family’s dinner table. 

“Courtney told me from the beginning that she saw me as a pivotal part of what they wanted to build this year,” Dirks said. “I’ve always been a big planner; I had my whole four years here mapped out in my head. It took a minute to wrap my head around that change, but I looked at all the positives that would come with a new staff and team around me.”

Dirks has an affinity for a pros and cons list, it’s part of how she puts together a four-year plan. When she needs another eye to check it, she looks to her family for guidance. 

The negatives of leaving came to mind fast: being away from family — a support system that’s been an hour away in nearby Mocksville throughout her career and regularly makes it to games for her and her sister, Sydney, who plays at Western Carolina — would be a challenge; saying goodbye to a place that so quickly felt like home and leaving the Charlotte jersey behind were rivaled by a short list of positives.

A non-existent one.

I gained so much compassion by going through those moments in my college career. I remember sitting in the dugout watching other girls make those plays the last two years, and I was always so happy for them.
London Dirks

“I sat down with my family, and I couldn’t come up with a single benefit to leaving,” Dirks said. “I wanted to meet a new group of girls here. The impact my teammates — the ones who stayed and who graduated or left — had on me was amazing. I didn’t want to underestimate my ability to do the same for someone else.”

A teammate she’s known her whole life came to mind quickly, too: her youngest sister, Dakota.

Every weekend she can, London heads back to Mocksville for impromptu visits — picking her sister up from school is one of the small pleasures she’s found comfort in. And dinners on Dakota’s special day? There’s no way she’d attend those virtually.

“I can’t imagine missing those moments with her,” London said. “She gets to pick where we go for birthday dinners, and I never wanted to miss one. Easter is an important day for my family too, and it’s one of the only days I have off during the season — I wasn’t going to spend it without them.”

Dirks’ family was there when she struggled transitioning to college softball. Going from the top player on her high school and club teams to fighting for playing time was a swift change, and one that she needed a shoulder to lean on for support.

The years helped mold who she’s become as a player.

Her 26 at-bats as a freshman made possible the success she’s had in a career-high 143 this season. She’s reached base more consistently (.405 on-base percentage) than in any other season, and Dirks’ 11 doubles are tied for second on the team.

And when a teammate needs similar support, she’s there to be the shoulder her family always was for her.

“I gained so much compassion by going through those moments in my college career,” Dirks said. “I remember sitting in the dugout watching other girls make those plays the last two years, and I was always so happy for them.

“I don’t take anything for granted now, it shaped the way I worked in the sport.”

Being a regular in the lineup has been a welcome change, nonetheless.

Dirks knew her talents would be useful regularly, but she wanted to use them correctly. Jenna Lord became the single-season leader for Charlotte in runs driven in, partly because the right fielder who hits in front of her wanted to contribute to accolades for others.

She’s brought leadership and been someone we can lean on in the transition between coaching staffs to make it go as smoothly as possible
Jake Combs

Starting from lower in the lineup, Dirks has moved to second, and her skills have enabled others to show off theirs.

“You have to be the best at your role,” Dirks said. “It’s a full-team effort, and I know that if I’m on base, it helps Jenna or Teagan behind me. If I can be a good defender, it helps whoever we have in the circle.

“Take whatever your role may be and do your best to help Charlotte win.”

Her play to save runs against Florida Atlantic flashes through Jake Combs' mind plenty, he’ll bring it up unprompted when her name is mentioned.

Charlotte’s assistant coach leads the outfielders through practice. Dirks brought all the skills needed to make his lessons shine.

“She’s as good at tracking a ball and getting a jump on it as anyone I’ve coached,” Combs said. “She has foot speed too; I think she’s an outstanding outfielder, and that helps an entire team — it saves pitchers from facing more hitters, it gives momentum when she makes big catches.

“Her personality’s been huge for us, too. She’s brought leadership and been someone we can lean on in the transition between coaching staffs to make it go as smoothly as possible.”

She’s part of a group that chose to continue their careers at Charlotte, despite the curveballs a coaching change can bring.

The fruits of the labor show in even the smallest ways.

Need dinner? You know who to call. Right around the corner is a Japanese restaurant where half-off sushi has become a team staple, so much so that the waiting staff knows the players’ names and orders when they come on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

When the jerseys are buttoned back up, there’s a similar familiarity that’s become calming.

Embracing Charlotte was never a tall task, even if the four-year plan that seemed so concrete was altered.

“There’s pride in being one of the six girls who stayed,” Dirks said. “There’s pride in wearing ‘Charlotte’ across our chests. We want to make a legacy here — when I stay for 30 minutes after a game, signing autographs for all these little girls, it’s like I’m getting to share that legacy and move it forward.

“There’s meaning behind playing for Charlotte Softball, and I want to keep building that.”

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