Melissa is a native of Macob, Michigan, where she developed her passion for the game of sofball. She was a three year Varsity softball athlete at Dakota High School where the team was a 2016 State Runner-Up and a 2017 State Champion.

After a successful prep career Melissa went on to play one year of college softball at Lawrence Technological University, then transferred to play 3 years of college softball at the University of Michigan – Dearborn with a Career .258 batting average and .324 OBP.

After college she coached two years of Varsity high school softball at Lake Shore High School in St. Clair Shores, Michigan where I helped the team achieve a District Championship in 2019.