Softball

Winnie's first year, Miriam's last.

Our family policy had been to ask the girls if they wanted to play T-ball the year they turned five. Rebekah said yes. Ana said yes. Winnie said no, thanks. Miriam was the exception. Rather than waiting until she turned five, she started playing the year she turned four since both Rachel and McKall talked about having the cousins play together. Since my daughter and two nephews would be on the team, I decided I'd coach. That was the first year I decided to be fully in charge of a team.

Here we are, 11 years later. Miriam has played T-ball/pitching machine/softball longer than her sisters. Winnie decided to join the team as a player this year and got her first taste of playing softball. Grandpa Scott and I coached yet again. 

It was a good, wholesome season with no injuries, nice coaches and little drama for the Mitt Fits (our team name this year)... just the way we like it. Our schedule was a little weird (three straight weeks of games including a couple of double-headers followed by three weeks of no games and then a one-day tournament) and we had girls and coaches alike who had to miss games for reunions, trips and camps (including Grandpa, Miriam and Winnie who missed a double-header for YW camp and Miriam and I who missed a week of games to go to D.C.), but it was still fun and fulfilling to watch the girls progress throughout the season. Between National History Day, Young Women camp and percussion clinics, Miriam was only able to play in four games all season. Miriam opted out of playing pitcher and catcher (most of the time) and decided she really liked 1st base. Winnie's favorite position turned out to be 2nd. Both of our girls improved throughout the season and enjoyed making new friends on our team.

Our season ended with a tied win-loss record and losing our first two games of the double-elimination tournament, but we still count it as a success. We celebrated with a party at Freeman Park which included nine square, root beer floats and awards. Miriam received the Team Vet Award for having played so long. Winnie received the Speed Demon Award for winning our contest at practice to see who could run from home plate to first base in the shortest amount of time.

Miriam is already talking about helping out as a junior assistant coach next year and Winnie is already talking about playing another year of softball, so it looks like we'll be at the fields again next spring/summer.

Winnie running home. Unfortunately, she got out because she didn't tag up after the other team caught a pop fly. (Grandpa in the background is trying to call her back to third.) She learned her lesson, though, and always kept an eye on fly balls when we had fewer than two outs after that.

Miriam playing 1st base; Winnie playing 2nd.

Andrea and Grandpa Scott in the dugout with the team.

Miriam running to 1st after hitting the ball. The other team are attempting to tag out our runner at home, but they didn't get her in time.