Our pitching machine team this year was the Fire-breathing Kittens. Last year's team went 0-12; this year's team was 11-5. What a difference a year makes. The girls are older and bigger, and they have had more time to practice. We did have a couple of newcomers (girls who had never played any softball before), but they made great strides throughout the year as well. Miriam's favorite positions were 1st base and right field.
We went into the tournament seeded 5th, and we ended up with 4th place (out of 12 teams). Not too shabby. We played four games the last day of the tournament. We couldn't have asked those girls to play any harder than they did.
Miriam ready for the catch at first.
Running to first after her hit. (I'm in the background coaching the batters).
The pop fly Miriam caught this season. We award all girls who catch pop flies with candy bars.
Miriam batting.
Coach Grover and Coach Scott.
Watching the Fire-breathing Kittens play during the tournament. Grandpa wore the wrong shirt, but he went home between games and changed. :-)
Bekah and Ana played fast pitch again. This year we let the girls vote on a team name, so we were the Base Invaders. We had several returning players (including our first-ever 8th graders!), girls who hadn't played in a few years, and one girl who had never played softball before (but you never would have guessed it). We went into the tournament seeded 4th and took 3rd after an extremely close game with the #1-seeded team.
Bekah pitched a bunch again this year as well as playing shortstop and catcher. Ana split her time playing outfield and bases (2nd and 3rd).
I know it's out of focus, but I had to include this action shot of Ana making the catch at second.
Rebekah the catcher.
Rebekah and her grandpa getting ready for our team to bat.
Bekah running to first after hitting.
Pitching windup.
Pitching release.
Ana hitting.
And running to first.