"What I Like About Softball"

[progapanda]

Head first slides into 1st base because she has to be safe to get the tying run home.

When you think your players have nothing left and they find a way to get it done.

Players & parents that say thank you.

2-6-2 double plays

DTK-2-6 double plays

Umpires & coaches that tell your kid "nice play"

[Battle]

8U/10U years---DD thought that I was the smartest grown up alive and hung onto every word I said.

Hurrying to load the car early in the morning for the trip to the ball fields, getting in the car and starting it up, putting it in reverse, looking in the rear view mirror and seeing that sleepy little face as I chuckle and back out the driveway. As I start moving down the road, I ask, "Well are you ready to play some ball?" and a sleepy little voice comes from the back seat and says, " Yes and I hope the coach pitches me." I say, " Well I hope so too if you do", as I kind of chuckle again. Then she says, "Are we going to stop to eat?" to which I reply, "What do you want?"...says her, "McDonnalds"...says me "OK"...and so our day begins.

There are so many things about softball that I still love but it is the smallest of things, like this, that I will remember the most for the rest of my life.

[bunt-cake mom]

The memories of my first daughter, who got on base on a bunt in 10u rec and me yelling from the stands, "I'm gonna make you a bunt cake," after she spent almost the entire season in the dug out, with a purple and green cast on her foot, cheering on her team.

Then watching my second daughter playing showcases and tournaments, stressing me out as she throws rockets to 3d and 1st from behind the plate, picking off base runners, and hitting bombs.

And the travel, the volunteering, the stress, the chasing of the dream. <3

[DonnieS]

Those newbies of you - take lots of pictures - support and cheer for your kid and her friends. I love the memories - so many incredible people - a lot of them here on hb and before on eteamz - so many great kids - so many great parents, coaches, blues - great to still hear from some of the blues even after I switched from coaching to watching - and God willing, we still have memories to come.

[ontheblack]

DD playing 8U winter ball in SoCal. After missing all but one game with a broken arm, she gets to pitch the last inning of the last game that we have no chance of winning. The first batter is almost a foot taller than her. She looks at me with a WTF expression and I tell her to just throw strikes. I left the dugout and took my video camera behind HP. She actually sits the kid down on 4 pitches. The smile I will never forget.

The next batter is the same size. She throws a strike and PU umpire calls it a ball. The smile disappears and she puts both hands out and says to the PU, "What? That was a strike."

I'm lmao while at the same time yelling at her, "no you cant question Blue", and telling the PU, "hey blue this is her first time in the circle".

It was also the last time she ever showed up an umpire.

Its those moments of pure innocence that I live for and glad I have it on video.

[4sandiegans]

Watching my DD nail tryouts and make the team she really wants.
Watching my DD struggle afterward and have to fight her way back, again and again....like life.
Listening to her younger brother cheer on her teammates and offer encouragement.
Waking up at 5:00am and going to Starbucks before the 6:30 warm ups, wearing team gear.
Having DD tell me she is tired of Softball on Sunday night and telling me maybe not on Monday.
Planning family vacations around tournaments even though others think you are crazy.
Sunday night sunburns.
Having my DD fall down tracking a fly ball in outfield and having other teams parents yell "Oh no must be a sniper!"
Listening to DD and her teammates sing One Direction songs full volume in car on way to Tourney.
Getting bummed thinking about when this all ends

[crashsdaddy]

Watching my bench riding DD step up to fill in for an injured player and playing rock solid defense. Been a starter ever since.

Running across the parking lot to get her first home run ball before it rolled into a sewer drain.

Base clearing game winning doubles.

First game, first pitch home run on a new team.....and watching her live up to that bar the rest of the season.

Crashing home and picking off the runner at home with a perfect bare handed toss on a suicide bunt in ITB.

Seeing the excitement and joy in her eyes when she talks fastpitch with people who don't play the game.

Spending so many weekends as a family and dreading the day it's all over.

[luvmy8]

Coaching first year 10U and having a discussion and the youngest girl on the team "toots" and I say " Must be a California barking spider around?" and one of the other girls on the team says " where my Grandpa and I have been looking for those for years!"

Also coaching 10 U same year and a girl who has been struggling to get on base all year, gets on and makes it to 2 nd on an error and after she gets there calls time and gives screams coach " I need to go to the bathroom!" from across the field.

Watching a girl hit her first over the fence home run, not knowing 2 years later we would be family as I'm engaged to her mother, and we will get married during high school ball because we finally have a Saturday with no softball!

Watching my other daughter pitch a perfect game in 12U and not even know until 2 of the parents come up to me after the game and say " did she get it?" and I didn't even pay attention I was just enjoying watching her pitch!

Watching both my girls make the same team and the first time seeing them in the circle together laughing after one K'd her first batter as her sister caught her.

Looking forward to future moments to share with my 2 girls and hoping it never ends!

[Vess Express]

In a T-ball game, a batter hits the ball back to the pitcher, who picks it up, and throws to 1st. The 1st baseman actually catches it, but by that time, the runner had already rounded 1st, and was on his way to 2nd. The 1st baseman, approximately 2 steps behind, proceeds to chase the batter the entire way around the base path, and across home plate, still 2 steps behind. The coach says to the 1st baseman, "What in the world are you doing?!", To which the girl cheerily replies, "Having fun, coach!"

In 10u, our team was in the field, with a runner on 1st. Runner takes off for 2nd, catcher's throw bounces once, then disappears. The ss is down on her knees, directly in front of the runner, who is also on the ground, on top of the base, after her slide. I notice the ss has a weird look on her face, and is just staring at the runner. Finally, the runner reaches into the folds of her uniform top, pulls out the ball, and drops it in the ss glove. They both crack up.