Full Count: A Woman's Journey to Changing the Game

Some journeys aren't planned.

They're called.

Some stories aren't just meant to be lived.

They're meant to be told.

Before the history, before the recognition, before the milestones, there was a moment. A pull that couldn't be ignored. A path that didn't come with instructions, only purpose.

In this powerful and deeply personal memoir, Natola D. Hawthorne takes readers beyond the lines of the baseball field and into the heart of a journey defined by faith, resilience, and becoming.

As the first and only woman of color to umpire Division I baseball, Natola shares what it truly takes to step into spaces where you weren't expected and to remain there with confidence, conviction, and grace.

From early uncertainty to defining moments on some of the game's biggest stages, she invites you behind the scenes of a world few get to see. Through quiet reflections, on-field challenges, and life-changing opportunities, this story reveals not just what she's done-but who she had to become along the way.

But this isn't just a story about baseball.

It's about identity.

About learning to stand in rooms where you once felt the need to shrink.

About embracing visibility, even when it feels uncomfortable.

About understanding that the journey isn't just for you; it's for those watching, waiting for proof that they belong too.

Because what happens when the door finally opens...

and the spotlight finds you?

With honesty, heart, and unwavering faith, Natola reminds us that breaking barriers was never the destination.

It was the beginning.

Because when God calls you-

and life brings you to a full count-

the only answer that matters... is yes.

Author: Natola D. Hawthorne
Publisher: Hov Publishing
Published: 07/31/2026
Pages: 386
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.13lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.80d
ISBN: 9798951023940

About the Author
Hawthorne, Natola D.: - Natola D. Hawthorne has never been afraid to step into places where she wasn't expected. Whether on the baseball field, in the classroom, or as a mentor to the next generation of officials, she has learned that purpose often begins where comfort ends. In 2023, Natola made history as the first woman of color to officiate Division I baseball. While that milestone opened doors, it represents only one chapter of a journey built on faith, perseverance, preparation, and the courage to keep saying yes when opportunities seemed impossible. Her career has taken her from local parks to some of baseball's most historic venues, including opportunities connected to Rickwood Field and Truist Park. Each experience has strengthened her belief that representation matters and that every barrier broken creates new possibilities for those who follow. As the founder of She Calls It All, Natola is committed to developing, mentoring, and encouraging women in officiating. Through education, leadership, and community, she is helping women and the underrepresented step into spaces where they have traditionally been scarce. Beyond the field, Natola is an educator, speaker, mentor, and lifelong learner who believes officiating is about much more than making the right call. It is about character, integrity, preparation, and the confidence to stand firm when the pressure is greatest. Full Count is more than the story of baseball. It is the story of answering a calling, trusting God's direction, and discovering that the greatest victories often happen long before anyone notices the scoreboard.Natola hopes her story reminds every reader that purpose rarely arrives with certainty, but it always rewards those willing to take the next step.To learn more about Natola's work, invite her to speak, or connect with She Calls It All, visit www.SheCallsItAll.org or scan the QR code on the following page.