The family softball team

This was the year of the one softball team. Rebekah had aged out of the City of Iona's league; Ana opted not to play on a team this year; Miriam was gung-ho about playing modified fast pitch; Winnie opted not to play on a team this year. So ... Grandpa Scott, Rebekah, Ana and I coached Miriam's team. I wasn't sure we'd have enough for both of the older girls to do the entire season (and I wasn't sure if it would be worth it to pay the $15 to get them both team shirts), but they earned their titles of assistant coaches. They helped run drills, haul equipment, sanitize people and equipment (COVID-specific rules for this season), kept stats and notes and train players. 

Despite our team not winning a single game this season (we had nine 4th graders who were still eligible to play pitching machine, but we moved the entire group up so they could stay together for one more year), we saw tremendous growth as the girls learned when to swing, how to lead off, how to slide, how to steal bases, how to pitch, how to play catcher, etc. 

Miriam decided she wanted to pitch, and she worked very hard pitching at home nearly every day. Partway through the season, she decided she also wanted to give catcher a try. Her other favorite position is shortstop.

In modified fast pitch, if the player pitcher pitches our batter four balls, a coach pitcher gets to pitch the remainder of the batter's strikes. Bekah with her experience as a pitcher stepped in and pitched whenever our batter had four balls. 

All in all, I'd say it was a successful season for the Pancake Batters (the team name that won the voting process).

 Miriam pitching in a game.

 Running home.

 Ana keeping stats on her bucket outside the dugout.

 Andrea and Grandpa Scott watching the team play the field.

 Miriam hitting the ball and getting on.

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 Miriam pitching.

 Making the throw to three.

 Andrea headed to coach first base.

Rebekah pitching as our coach pitcher.