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.