Christian Park Softball
What a busy weekend. I wish I had time to write all the details down. Let's start with Community on Friday. We stomped them. Usually, I don't like to boast too much about beating another team, however, I'll make an exception this time. Community and Christian Park go back along ways and I have many friends and relatives that coach and play there. So, it's nice to beat them on their home field ever now and again. Our girls played good ball, thinking ahead of the game and thinking about more than one play at a time. Things got rough, when Emily smacked the ball and head towards first. While their first baseman completely blocked the base with her foot and body, firmly planted. She tried to run through the baseman and was stopped flat and blue called her out. An obviously, bad call I confronted the umpire with little avail. We suited up Sadie in the catcher’s gear. One of our two main pitchers, she didn't know what she was getting herself into. After a short inning she came off the field with a totally different view of our players that catch. Next, Dena donned the gear in the last inning. Like a mirror image of a recently game between Community and Lawrence's major team, a Community player popped a short fly play between the pitcher and catcher. You could just see Melissa and Dena as they both went for the ball. In your head you’re yelling, "Call it!!" and Melissa does, just not loud enough. BOOM!! Slightly dazed Dena looks towards three, grabs the ball and charges full steam toward the runner. The startled look on "Reds" face, like a deer in the head lights, then thud as Dena plows her back three feet for the out. We continued to play on and what a beautiful game it was.
Saturday morning, we played against Decatur. To my surprise, they were mostly a 13-14 year old team. What do they feed these girls to make them grow so tall? We started the game off beautifully. Three out with in the first four players, same thing with the next inning and then my girls just quit. Dropped balls, bad throws, and balls rolling here and there. I kept the positive attitude up, maybe I should have just yelled at them and told them get their head into the game. With both of my other coaches out with sick kids, I had to wander out by third base. I doubt they ever heard a word I said. I tried several attempts to change up players, and this didn't help either. They'd hit to third, I would put players on third. Then they would hit to second. Agh! It was just plain frustrating. By the fifth inning it was over, they put us out to pasture just like the cows and horses near their diamond. So, let's go eat!
Most of us make it back to Christian Park by 11:30 to dig into BBQ pork sandwiches and other good stuff. Around 3:00 the girls go their trophies for the year. Silver and gold statue with a baseball "bobble" head. They were different, Daniel, who played for the minor Rangers loved his. Meanwhile, I had to go up to district to sign everyone in for the Little League World Series.
Two games left of the regular season - Lowell on Tuesday and one more game at our park with Community on Thursday. I'm sure they'll be back with attitude.
Another game against Lawrence has arrived. The gravel dirt is a little wet from the chilled rain that came through today. Again, here is another park that sets the older girls teams behind everyone else. As I talked with their coach he sounds the familiar story of how the Jr. & Sr. Girls softball program takes a back seat to the boy tournaments being played on the now dry and lit fields up front. I do feel some since of accomplishment this year for our team. We have played more games, if not twice as many games as last year and we have play every team in our district, except Southport. I can't remember us doing that since the first year we started when Sadie's dad coached the team.
Before the game, I talked about All-Stars. I need birth certificate and health forms by Friday's games. Paula, whom I counted on for All-Stars, didn't want to play. After talking with her, and letting her know that Carnine and Indiana Central, both strong teams, would play each other in the first game, she said she would play. I believe with Carnine and IC playing each first, will give us another advantage in the tournament. I just need enough players to commit. At the moment, we have 9 and I think that's the best we can do for now.
On to the game. We start with another fabulously show of 11 girls. The umpire did not show. Lawrence quickly drafted a young umpire, probably a Sr. Player, to ump the game for us. It quickly spread that blue was dating the Lawrence catcher. After a previous game at another park, it worried me. Lucky for us, he did a good job. Even calls for both teams - good and bad calls - even hanging in they’re when our manager took up arms when their pitcher hit 6 of our girls with the ball. Little League really needs to put that rule back in. I guess that's something to do in the off-season.
Our girls performed well, even when I ticked some of them off by given Ashley a chance to pitch. She only walked one player and like everyone else I like to give each player a chance to play. Tied up at the dreaded 5th inning 12 all, I now wish, for once, that I had let the girls know the score. I have a philosophy not to tell the score, so hopefully the girls will play as hard in the first inning as the last. I think if they had known it was tied, they would have put more effort into it. However, this 5th went well, Brittany made some good plays. She stopped the ball and made an out on second. We managed to hold them, still 12 all. Out bats didn't hold up in the top of the sixth inning. After their pitcher hit another one of our girls, our frustrated parents began to get a little unruly. Diana talked with blue and the other coach, as I talked with the parents. This was needed, but it killed the momentum of the game. With bases loaded, we failed to score. All we have to do is hold them to keep it tied up. It's now 8:30 and this will be it. We manage good pitches and plays. With darkness setting in, the batter, who has the advantage, hits the ball and scores a run. End of game. It was a good run for our girls. I think the emotion of the game got the best of us.
Time to prepare for the busy the weekend. We play Community, if they show up. Our park has a long history with Community, but this year, at least for Jr. & Sr., it has been left empty. No contact and no communication. I've talked with people from that park and I think their just not having a good year. Saturday, everyone needs to be up yearly. We have a game at Decatur, another park on the far west side of town. Lady Rangers need to be there at 8:15-8:30 and the game will start at 9:00. Then 11:00-1:00 is the Christian Park Hog Roast. Girls need wear your uniforms in order to get in for free. Parents, it’s just a few buck you to eat up. Minor & Major teams will play at 1:00. Trophies for all team, including ours will be at 3:00.
It's 5:15 and 8 of our 11 girls are here and ready to play. The Lawrence team is no where to be seen, a bad thing when your playing on their field. Finally, they stroll in. Its amazing 11 girls are here to play tonight. I haven't had this many since opening day. The clock rolls around to 6:00 and Lawrence only has 8 players. It's sad to see that the other parks are having the same problem getting enough players to play. Their coach calls the ninth player who lives just across the street. "It's too hot", she says. Ashley, who knows one of the Lawrence players, volunteers to play for them. So, we start the game.
We score a run in the first inning and they make it threw their line up of 9 taking a small lead. Our girls played tuff. Amanda was behind the plate, Heater on third and Dena playing short. With the running on third we make the play. A quick throw to short, who was sneaking up on the running, caught the ball. The runner hesitates, and turns for third. She quickly tosses the ball to Heather as the running spins around in the dirt and runs towards home. Melissa runs from the mount toward home, to back up the plate. Heather burns the ball to Amanda who just misses the ball and the runner makes it in. To most, this would be disappointing. To the coaches, were excited. Our team forced the player, everyone move perfectly.
Lawrence continues to run up the score and by the 5th inning they have the lead. I'm think great 5th inning, were doomed. Our team, hard playing, still seems to lag in the 5th. With a couple of good hits and Brittany take one of three hits by the pitcher, bases are loaded. Melissa, at the top of our line up, takes the bat. Smacking a hard ball to left and center, if flies past the in-field and through the outfield, nearly rolling across the green grass to the metal fence. The runners start flying off the bases, as fans and coaches are yelling, "RUN!” Melissa burns threw seconds and takes third as the ball makes it back in to in-field. She too quick and tags home before the ball ever get close. Not to be shown up, Dena and Maria make good hits and end up on bases. Sadie takes the plate and digs in. She too smacks the hard and tears up the field ending up on third and driving in two RBIs. Everyone continues to perform with excellence. We scored 11 runs in one inning taking us far into the lead.
Brook dug in and stayed here ground as she did her best to hit the ball. She is still learning and will do great in our next game. Emily took over catcher, as the heat can be extreme, and did an excellent job at stopping the ball. Finally, in our last inning Mariah took off from third base for the steal. The Lawrence catcher threw the ball hitting her in the side. The ball rolled slowly past three. Gritting her teeth and holding her side, as Chris our third base coach yelled run, she hustled, pain and all in to home to score the run.
At the end of the 6th, now about 8:00, I thought blue would call the game and we could claim victory. He said play on, so we did. Racking up another 5 runs. After that, no one could see the bright yellow softball. We played the field and after 3 or so more runs from the other team, the umpire finally called the game.
Lady Ranges take home the victory!
Saturday's big double-header takes a dive. I show up at the diamond about 7:30. The last time I was out here I noticed, and so did our pitchers, that the mound was not lined up with home base. I decided I would fix it before our two games. When I arrived the field, it has not been cut. IPS was going to cut it once a week, so much for that. I knew I didn't have enough time to cut it, so I when ahead and began fixing the home plate. Two deep holes where the girls dug in their cleats in made the ground very un-level. With a rake and shovel I dug deep into the gray brick dust field and managed to level out the area. Pulling up the dust covered plate and it's five spikes, I aligned it with second base and the mound. Now for the first time in the park's history, I am sure the mount is 40ft, correctly measured, from the plate. With a few finishing touches, I make an adjustment on the pitching mound and fill in the pitcher's foot hole. Ah, it looks good.
Our manager shows up about 8:00 and informs me that Lowell called and canceled this morning’s game. "Sorry, we don't have enough girls to play", she says. I hate hearing that, but luck-fully, it's not me saying this time. Actually, that might be a good thing; maybe I can pull two girls from here team to help us cover next week. If I don't, we'll be making that dreaded phone call.
So, now we have 3 hours before our afternoon game. The sun is out and the sky is blue and the grass is six inches high. Diana and I head over to the main park about 6 blocks away. She grabs the mower and the steal spiked grader and begins to take the 20-minute ride to our field. That's 20 minutes in "rabbit" speed on the mower. Anyone could walk the distance in about 10 minutes. This poor John Deer sure won't be winning any speed races.
Around 10:00 several cars begin to show up as we are cutting grass, weeding and dragging the field. It's the Firebirds from Carnine. Their schedule says we play at 10:00, of course, mine says 12:15. Their schedule says they play Lowell at 12:15. Oh, great. We talk and their coaches are frustrated and from the sounds of it, it's not the first time they have had problems with scheduling. Anyway, they agree to come back about 11:30 and play us. Good, we haven't wasted all morning cutting and cleaning for nothing.
Now on to the good stuff! The Firebirds show up in their bright orange uniforms and begin to warm up. Our Lady Rangers straggle in about 11:30ish, red shorts and blue tops, they’re all excited and ready to play. Ten players today, I'm so happy. This is a first in a long time for us. I actually have to sit someone - I hate that but that's the rules. I choose Paige, since she hasn't been at practice or the games. She wanted to play ball and perform this summer. Unfortunately for me, the performance is taking a more important roll in her life than ball. I'm OK with that, because at least I know she will or will not be here. However, I did notice this time around, that her ball skills are slowly slipping away.
Heather, Sadie and Melissa pitched the ball well for us. Left field got a huge work out, with several of the Firebirds hitting the ball to the fence and making huge runs even though we hustled the ball in quickly. At about the 5th inning we were tied up or at least pretty close. I've come to dread the 5th inning, for some reason we tend to loose the game in this inning. The first four we play with fire. We stop the ball, and we make the plays. When were up to bat we can kill that ball. The 5th inning comes and we take the field. We just stop playing. They don't look tired and they still seem mentally in the game. The girls just can't seem to get 3 outs. Their running makes it to first, then steals second and before we know it she's home. Next, when we do get up, our batting is poor. We'd be lucky to get someone on base. The girls are trying and it doesn't matter who's up to bat. Finally, in the 6th & 7th inning, we begin to pick it up again. Good plays, good hearts, goods minds. We, unfortunately, let to many runs get in that 5th, and cannot catch up. The Firebirds however, fail to put any extra runs on the board.
Hmmm, the 5th inning. I have to figure out how to get us through it.
Now it's time for me to worry. I have put thoughts of playing in the District 7 Jr. tournament on hold, which we will win if we have our full team show up. I know our 6 girls that I can depend on have the skill and heart to win, and the 7th has the skill if her other summer project would ever come to an end (I know that's greedy of me). The remaining girls, all play well, but I can't seem to depend on them to show up for the games. I get messages second hand and just before the game. I need to find two or three dependable players, so we can at-least field the game. Maybe Lowell or Community will be willing to sign over a player or two, I'm sure it would help their softball program to say that they had players on the winning 2003 District 7 Jr. Championship team.
Tuesday evening, all 13 players have been called and it sounds like a positive turn out for everyone except Paige. I knew she had comments during the week and would only be able to play on Saturday. I sketched out plans on how we are going to beat the Fever on Wednesday night. Taking the plays we worked on Monday night, I thought I had everything figured out and ready to go.
Wednesday afternoon, Heather Q calls and tells me she is quiting. She is not having any fun. I said, "OK and to call me if you change your mind." We are all here, as a team, to win and to have fun together.
Stuck in the fabulous traffic of downtown Indianapolis, I receive a frantic call from Katie, I'll be there but I can't find my uniform. She almost wasn't going to come. "Throw on something blue and be there", I said. So she did. Another call from Mariah's mom, running late, she promising she would be there and she was. Grandparents brought Dean and Amanda. Heather M, on her sweet 16, was already there and ready to play. Coach Chris and Brittany were waiting on the bench and soon Sadie arrives with bad news. Paula and Maria would not be at the game. I would really wish they would call me before the game and let me know. OK, we're still waiting for two more - Melissa and Rachael. Melissa arrive, and ready to play. Time ticked away as we waited. Several phone calls proved unsuccessful in reaching her. We have talked to her since she arrive back from vacation, but have yet to see her at any of our games. I would hate to see her leave. Her attitude and playing abilities are very good.
The Firebird show up, instead of the Fever. This team is more in line with ours. Although the girls are older, with our full team I know we can take them. Times up, it's 6:00 p.m. The umpire calls the game - forfeit. I talked with the other coach and she agrees to scrimmage.
I pull Jennifer, Dena's cousin, from the stands. I pull Megan, Heather's sister, as well. Both girls play on a major team. So we start by singing happy birthday to Heather and took to our bats. I completely changed the line the night before. The new line up worked great. It seems fairly balanced and each player stole and hit as needed. I kept track of our score and didn't pay attention to theirs, I was more concerned about working in the new play and making the trow to second base. Melissa pitched the first four innings, followed up by Sadie. Both pitchers with different styles really helps off set the other team when it comes to batting. A huge rally from our 10th player - our parents and fans - help us get 3 outs in a row in the 4th inning. Finally, going into the last half of the inning we were tied up 11. With two outs and bases loaded, the Firebirds hit a double to win. We went ahead and played the last out and called it a night.
Thursday's game, I could type about it for pages. Mentally ready and physically strong our team quickly out did the other team. Still short a players, Paula's sister Maria was released from medical leave yearly in the week and was able to join up with us. Sophia also came back giving us 9 players and a good start to the game.
The Lawrence team was a little late getting to the park which is OK, because we are usually running behind as well. So, they took the field with 8 and by the time we had them out in the first inning their 9th player arrived. Great! We've got a game!
Our team Begin by getting beat up - literally. Their pitcher hit 5 of our first 8 players and several more as we continued the game. Despite this problem our girls kept their heads in the game. Sophia made two beautiful bare handed fly ball catches in right field. Amanda, our cacher for the game, was dis-trough over comments by the other team and came back with force and made several excellent plays. Heather pitched 5 good inning and was replace by Sadie who finished up the game in style. With bases loaded, Dena smacked down a triple and getting 3 RBIs. Maria attempted several times for the steal at third, just missing by a second. In the 6th inning, she was up to bat and smack the ball hard, cracking the metal bat down the middle. A dull thud sounds as she ran down to first. Paula, Brittany and Mariah all held players at second and made excellent hits and steals around the bases to help the team pull a 20 - 8 victory!!
Oh what a game. With thick rain pouring down and the flashes of lighting, I though the grey brick dust on the field would be soaked and we would have to cancel another game. When I arrived there was just one little puddle, I love this field.
Now the concern moved to the players, would we have enough? With Rachael and Katie out on vacation, then finding out that Paige would not be able to attend any week night games, it just about killed me. Only eight players and the clock ticketing down to 5:00 p.m. With a call to Carnine, I found out that they were already on their way. How they manage to get everyone together, I'll never know. I guess when half your players drive, it makes it easier. Our team, still have two years before we have that advantage. Bad directions to the Carnine team, I'm not sure where they got them from, since we played their other team last Tuesday, caused a small delay of the game, which I think help boost the confidence of our team. At last, Sophia, who came with Sadie, made our nine players for the evening's game.
Sophia, our newest player, was quickly shown the ropes and placed in right field. For the last four games, a fairly quite spot and a good place to start someone out that's new to all of this stuff. She was given the simple instructions to get the ball and throw it to Mariah playing second base. Nervous, but willing, she stuck it out.
Everyone is ready. Carnine's team shows up. An older group of girls, tall and ready to play ball. We take the field and they have first "bats". First pitch and the ball goes flying high and to right field. The ball bounces and Sophia makes for the ball and throws it in. Great job!
Everyone was "game faced" and in the mood to play. In the third inning, out bats began to work and by the fourth inning we were only down by 3. For rest of the game the weather gods were against us. We would take the field and it would rain. Not a mild mist, full hard can't see in front of you rain. Struggling with the weather, we managed to get them out. We would get ready to bat and "poof" the sun would shine. I guess that was a good sign for our batters. We kept in the game, both scoring and mentally. The final inning. We could still win.
We took the field, and the rain poured buckets. The dirty wet ball was hit and it slipped out of everyone mit. It did us in. They made five more runs. Our hits were great, but Carnine's shortstop was on fire. She managed to catch four balls, if not more. The Lady Rangers did let that get us down. We finish the game in hit spirit knowing that we made them work for the win. Ever girl on our team scored a run and played tuff. Fearless Rangers Never Quit.
Ready to play? Tuesday June 10th is our next game at the Howe field. I need everyone there by 5:15, so we can warm up on the field. Two of our players are out this week, so if anyone else does not show up, we forfiet the game. If you cannot be there, let me know as soon as possible, so we don't waste hoping to play.
We need two more girls to play on our team. Any girl within the area, age 13-16 is welcome to join. Stop by Christan Park's concession stand and sign up!
Well there's one thing worste than loosing and that's not being able to play at all. We had one player not attending and two no shows. That put us under the 9 player needed to play, so we forfietted our game with decatur. It was very disappoint to see our girls that were there fired up and ready to play. Afterwards, we had a little chat about getting ourselfs out of our slump and then we had a fun practice watching all the oldy parents try and hit the ball. Our coach & manager then sprang for D.Q. and we had a good eventing.
The Indianapolis/Scarborough Peace Games has been cancelled this year due to SARS concerns. http://www.theindychannel.com/news/2246873/detail.html
Our next game is Tuesday, June 3 at 5:45. We will be playing on the Howe field and players need to be there about 5:15. We will be playing Carnine's Firebird team. They have two teams and we will play the other team, the Fever, next Tuesday. We will have pratice on Wednesday at 6:00. Our second game this week, will be on Thursday, June 5th at 5:45. Again, please have the girls at the Howe field about 5:15. We're going against Decature.
Our game against the IC Angels ended up with another loss. Both teams were evenly match and it look like it was set to be a great game. Melissa started us off on the mound with Rachael catching. The field was set just like our last practice and I had high hope for our special play of the day. With the other team set, and our catcher called for the play, she didn't get the reply from the whole team as needed and many players were left wandering why our catcher didn't make the play. Early in the game, with our runner on third and another on first, the coach told the player to steal second. The catcher for the Angels was able to make the play to second and that made three outs. Unfortunately, the upset the runner and her disappointment spread quickly throughout the team. I hate when this happens, these girls just don't realize how much they feed up on one another's emotions. Bad things will happen, so will the good things. You must always focus on the moving forward after such an event, don't hold on to the mistakes, yours or mine. By about the four/fifth inning, the manager was fed up with the sulking. Straight up the ladies were told, "If you don't want to play we can leave. Don't waste the time of the players that want to play and want to win." The girls, now knowing now that in Jr./Sr. play, coaches don't have to play every player in a game (there is no manditor playing time like in minor or majors) they picked up a better attitude. Mariah making two beautiful plays at second base help move our girls along. The girls played out the game with head held high and a strong positive attitude.