First 3 Softball Games of the Season 2023
Game 1
Well, it’s a Monday night and our first set of softball games for both girls. Olivia plays first. Oliva’s game is awesome. Everyone cheers on both teams. All the kids get one bat per inning. They still use the tee. This was also how the girls’ games were last year also. Up next is Payton’s game. Umm… WOW! What a difference from one game to the next. Payton’s age group has coaches pitching; but you can strike out, and there’s no tee. Girls can take extra bases on throws to first that get past the fielder, there’s catcher’s gear, and their playing a pitcher’s-hand style of softball. Basically, the runners can’t take a base once the ball is back in the pitcher’s hand. I’m thinking oh goodness is she ready for this?! She’s out in the outfield not paying attention like always.
Thank goodness we have laid back coaches. On top of being laid back, they seem to be keeping close to Payton… I think to make sure she doesn’t take a line drive unexpectantly. It’d be pretty easy since she’s mainly playing in the dirt. He’ll also occasionally redirect her attention or adjust her face mask; which is much appreciated and needed. Now P’s team is up to bat. Payton is swinging a bat with no regard for her surroundings. I’m walk-jogging to the dugout to stop her. I’m sure she’s going to brain some kid with her bat. As I sneak through the fence another mother tells me she tried telling her to stop. I get in there and tell Payton to stop. She’s now sitting at the opposite end of the dugout sneaking looks at me. I let her know she’s not in trouble; and to cheer for her teammates.
Her first at bat is at hand. Her teammates are really cheering loud for her. It melts my heart. She gets a hit. Amazing! At her second at bat though she strikes out. I’m on the edge of my seat. Will she flip out? Will she be mad that she can’t keep doing her preferred task? No! She takes it really well. She’s not quite sure what’s going on; but she follows directions perfectly. She skips back to the dugout and takes a seat. No issue. I’m not sure if I’m prouder of her for getting a hit or taking the strikeout so well.
At the end of the game the coaches have the girls in a group to have a post-game talk. It’s at that point I’m for sure we got some good coaches. They barely spoke of any short comings. Nobody was singled out, and they mainly just spoke to positives. You can tell they are almost amused by these funny little girls just learning about athletics. Proud little girls are talking about their highlights and the coaches are telling them how good they did.
Game 2
Second game of the season. Payton’s first a bat is a strike out. In the field she’s mainly playing in the dirt. She stops for short amounts of time when we yell at her to pay attention; but I’m leery of yelling too many instructions and overwhelming her.
Her second at bat she gets a hit; but the ball also hits her hand. She’s shaking it, and you can tell it’s hurting her. The first basemen picks up the ball and touches the base. She’s out. The coach is down at Payton’s level talking to her. Jimmy says “Payton’s going to ask him to kiss it.” She didn’t; but I bet the coach would have given it a smooch. She does great showing how tough she is. She’s the last to come out of the dugout; and to our surprise she’s dressed in the catcher’s gear. We’re sitting out in right field under a roof; because it had been raining. Jimmy is wasting no time walking up closer. We’re both concerned that she’ll not be able to pay attention enough to play catcher. We don’t want to see her get hurt; but the catcher in this league plays back from the batter; so, she’s really just catching a slow ball on the bounce. Still… We’re worried.
She seems to be doing great. She’s blocking most the balls from going behind her; and she’s paying attention every time. Jimmy is texting me pictures all through the inning. I’m sure he’s pumped; because he use to catch in Little League and High School.
Game 3
Every night at bed time Jimmy has been working into the routine to talk about how we don’t play in the dirt at softball. He’s brought it up several times from the house to the ball park.
Before the game starts Payton is warming up by playing catch in the outfield with her partner. She’s doing great. Pointing her glove, stepping, and throwing. This game Payton is playing right field. Amazingly she didn’t play in the dirt one time! That’s a huge success all by itself; but what if I told you Payton had two at bats and got three hits… I’ll explain: Her first at bat she got a hit. Her second at bat she hit the ball just barely fair, about three inches into the field on her last pitch. Unhappy with the results, Payton picks up the ball, tosses it in the air, and with one hand hits the ball. All the parents on both teams are laughing. It was super cute and took everyone by complete surprise. She had the whole place laughing out loud. I wish we’d have filmed it.
Three games in the books, and Payton is doing really good. She’s throwing correctly, hitting the ball, and paying attention in the field. That’s about as much as any parent can ask for at this age. We’re proud of you P!
