Christian Park Softball
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.