Focus on your ability, not your disability.

The simple but powerful message is one that Stephanie Zweig, a softball student-athlete at Plattsburgh State University of New York, has heard from her parents often and one that she has clearly taken to heart.

In spite of sustaining a brachial plexus injury at birth that left her with little strength and limited range of motion in her right arm, Zweig has been a bright spot on the diamond for the Cardinal. Used primarily as a reliever during her freshman season, Zweig turned in seven saves, the third most in NCAA Division III on the year. She is projected to eventually enter the pitching circle as a starter.

The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that sends signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm and hand. According to the United Brachial Plexus Network, (UBPN), injuries typically occur because of stretching, tearing or other trauma to the nerves. Also known as Erb's Palsy, almost three of every 1,000 children are affected by such injuries.

Zweig didn't move her right arm for the first six months of her life. Therapy from the time she was a small child through sixth grade restored the use of her right hand and limited use of her shoulder and elbow. However, Zweig is unable to extend her arm in front of her or raise her hand above her head.

None of that has slowed her down, though. Early in life, Zweig's sport of choice was soccer. But that changed in the third grade, when her father introduced her to softball. When she moved on to pitching, she was hooked.

"I liked being involved in every pitch," she said. "I always like a challenge, and pitching is always challenging, so the game never gets boring for me."

In order to pitch, she grips the tip of the glove, palm-side up and opposite the opening, with her right hand for the wind-up, and then she quickly slides the glove on her left hand after releasing the ball. After fielding or accepting a return throw from the catcher, she pulls the glove off, makes a left-handed toss or prepares for the next pitch. Zweig also bats left-handed due to the limited range of motion in her right arm.

Zweig's father Andrew devised her original pitching motion, but as she became more serious later in grade school, she modified her delivery with the help of a pitching coach to her current style. As for fielding, like pitching, Zweig has spent hours working on that part of her game. The effort has paid off. She was listed as second on the depth chart at first base.

Zweig admits that when she was younger it was a bit difficult to get coaches to take her seriously, but as she has matured, that has changed. Given that Zweig logged 91.7 innings in 34 appearances and collected 88 strikeouts in addition to the seven saves, it is obvious the faith in her ability was not misplaced.

The skill at which she plays the game hasn't just caught the attention of her coaches or opponents, either. Zweig's teammates also are impressed.

"Of course, they all asked questions when I got there. They were amazed at first," she said. "Still to this day, people ask questions, but I think they are starting to ignore it now. They know the way I play."

Even as Zweig continues to live her dream of pitching at the college level, she's also doing her part to serve as a role model for other children growing up with brachial plexus injuries. Zweig was the subject of two newspaper articles while in high school, which her parents sent to the UBPN. That prompted the organization to invite her to speak at two UBPN conventions. She also participated in a clinic for mentally and physically disabled children at the College of Staten Island. The opportunity to share her story and encourage others helps keep Zweig motivated.

"I love doing motivational speaking. I went to see all the kids because I've never really been exposed to anybody else with the injury. The main thing I say is to focus on your ability, not your disability. Don't let anything stop you. Don't let anybody tell you that you can't do it," said Zweig. "It's really just telling them they can go out there and play, and that they shouldn't feel any different."

Zweig hopes to carry her positive message into the classroom one day. An elementary education major, she aspires to teach at the third- or fourth-grade level.