Trio of old friends play softball

The Three Amigos:
From left, Amy Westaby, Cassidy Olson and Hannah Emmen of West Valley High School have enjoyed playing different sports together since they were young. This year, Olson and Emmen will graduate from West Valley High School. Westaby will be graduating in 2010.

Hannah Emmen, Cassidy Olson and Amy Westbay have been playing sports together as the 'Three Amigos' since they were eight years old. The girls played softball for Clear Creek Canyon Little League. When the league was dissolved, the three girls went to play Little League in Cottonwood. They were the only girls from Happy Valley and were inseparable at practices and at games. Oddly enough, they were also neighbors, only living a mile away from each other with Emmen living in the middle. The three girls, when combined with the girls from Cottonwood, made a team that was unstoppable for about four years. Each season, the girls make matching bows to go in their hair to wear during games.

One year, Olson went as far as making special shirts that said, "Three Amigos" with their numbers on the back. Cassidy is Amigo No. 1, Amy, Amigo No. 2 and Hannah, Amigo No. 3. In all of the buddy pictures taken over the years, Westaby has always been in the middle. "The smallest is always in the middle," said Westaby.

As the girls began playing high school sports, they found themselves on school teams together, sometimes two of them would be playing one sport while the other played another sport, other times it was the Three Amigos together again.

Sports played throughout the years, were softball, basket ball, soccer and volley ball. Outside of school when they are playing on different traveling sports teams and are at the same tournaments, they stop to watch each others games and to cheer each other on. Currently each night before going to sleep, the Three Amigos text message one another to say goodnight.

After graduation this year, Olson and Emmen have been looking at going to school at Shasta College or going to Northwest Christian College in Eugene. No matter the college, all three plan on playing softball.

The girls hope to someday find themselves back together at the same school playing softball together.

When not in school, Emmen, Olson and Westaby spend the majority of their time together along with their families being close. Emmen and Olson have been friends since preschool, Westaby met Olson in fourth grade, and Westaby and Emmen's brothers hung out together while growing up. Westaby and Emmen also played soccer on the same team when they were four years old.

As the girls get closer to graduation and look toward the future, the Three Amigos look at it in these ways.

"It's been awesome being able to play sports together for this long. Hopefully, we will be able to do it again," said Hannah Emmen.

"It will be strange not playing on the same teams all the time," commented Cassidy Olson.

"It will be a lot different being here at school without them. I will still wear a bow in my hair and text them after games and tell them about it." Noted Amy Westaby.

There is no doubt in the girls' minds, however, that they will keep in touch.