Softball Days of Fall

Kendall on deck

We started Kendall in softball - REAL softball, not t-ball (although a tee is used if they can't hit 3 pitches). I was hesitant to put her in because I knew that she really didn't know was softball was but the cost wasn't too high and I thought WHY NOT? Of course Mike (a.k.a. Mr. Baseball) was gung-ho about it. Well, come to find out you have to invest another $100 - $150 in equipment and uniforms! Don't even get me started on the lack of information on their website. I'm drafting a list of "what your website is lacking" as we speak...

Kendall & "Avery her friend" as opposed to "Avery her sister"

Anyway, we've had several great practices and today was GAME DAY! 2 games, back to back, 1 hour long each with a 10 minute break in between. It was hot and luckily one of the girls mom's remembered sunscreen because it didn't even cross my mind! Unfortunately Mike (who is usually really good about applying sunscreen) forgot to put some on and stood on the field for all 2 hours so his cheeks are nicely baked.

The girls actually had a lot of fun! The team is made up of girls 6 and under but a couple of the girls are young 7s but they've never played softball before so we let them in.

I thought our team parents would be totally chill, I mean, these kids are young and playing for the first time. Good grief - I was more than surprised. I was expecting light happy cheers "good job girls! That's okay! You'll get it next time!" and really the majority of the people were very good but there were a couple of parents that were all over their kids. I mean, they weren't shouting profanity but they were moaning and groaning and flailing their arms and screaming "GET THE BALL, GET THE BALL!!!!" But NOT in a sweet "encouraging" way. It's one thing to yell TO your kid to run to first, it's a whole other thing to scream AT your kid. I guess I just don't get it, but then again I am really laid back. I want MY kid to have fun and feel good about herself! I wish everyone felt that way.

Luckily, they don't keep score and really the main thing that we are trying to teach them is just to run to first base. I was pleasantly suprised at how well they paid attention and ran after the ball. Of course there were the girls that kindly pointed at the ball as it rolled past - pointing it out for the other girls so that their teammates were sure to know where it was.

All in all it was a great game day. Warm but there was a breeze and no humidity. After the month of August anything feels great! I chased Avery the ENTIRE time so that was not fun but luckily Grandma and Grandpa Brewer will be here next weekend for the game so someone else can chase her for at least one of the hours!

And can I say what a sweet encouraging husband I have? He pushes Kendall just enough and encourages her the whole time but also realizes when she's had it and lets her go do what she really wants to do - go play on the playground at the front of the fields.

Assistant Coach Mike