Hi streamers. This weekend was another one filled with lots of softball games as we were in the Wellborn Panther Tournament. Oh how I love me some softball!!
Friday nights' game so SO cold & we all cheered our girls on from underneath
many blankets. Our girls were revved up & ready to play. It showed too, cuz we stomped some butt in this game! They were happy, but tired & cold as we left the field...ready to play some more the next morning.
They had to be at the field again at 9:45a for our 10:30 game. These games set up "the pool order" (who plays whom) that leads to the championship game.
It was still cold, so we all came prepared with coats, blankets & drank hot chocolate to keep warm. This was a team we had played & beat previously too, but one can't get too cocky cuz they can always come back & get you good.
Luckily, we did exactly what we were supposed to do & won again.
The next game time is based on if you won or lost, & the points compared with another winner's points. We left not knowing who we would play next, or at what time. Two more games had to be played on another field to determine this, so we went home to warm up. Eventually, the call came....
We played at 4:30, so it was a little warmer (if the wind would stop blowing!) This was a good team (each one better as the tournament progresses). The girls had time to rest, eat & get on their game-head beforehand. We'd beat this one before too, but we had to work for it today. The winner of this game proceeded on to the tournament championship game at 7:30 tonight. And...we won again!
Now it's on to the tournament championship game, but not before the current game ends & another one is played. They were running behind so it would be after 8:00. We had a little over an hour before we played, so most left to eat & warm up some more.
Randy & I tried to go to 3 different places, but it was Saturday night & the parking lots were full. We didn't have time to wait in line & then wait for a crowd, so we ended up at Strutz & ate us up some fried dill pickles & some hot wings! mmmmmm Now, it was back to the field....
We arrived as the other game was just about to end. Both of these teams are VERY good, but Cleburne Co/Heflin had just kicked some softball butt. This is who we would be playing for the trophy!
We knew we had our work cut out for us.
They bat first & were still pumped up from their win, so their bats were hitting, their gloves were catching, & the blood running through their veins was the color of victory!! Our pitcher was 'off' on her first several pitches, got frustrated & upset - something you have to "shake it off", as we tell them. They got a couple of runs in right off the bat. We made a couple of stupid errors too which contributed to this. Coach swapped our pitcher & another player to continue.
Now we're back in, but just not quite having our heads completely in the game. "Watch the ball!", "Play smart!", "Want it!", "See it!" was being yelled from the stands. We had our time during one early inning & scored about 5 runs. Their outfield was ready for us & still pumped up...& we just didn't
have our game on like we needed. The innings went back & forth - mostly with them getting in run after run. Our girls weren't happy, were tire, frustrated, & you could tell. More & more missed balls, dropped balls & just plain good playing by the other team kept us down. The time on the clock ran out & everyone thought that was it when the inning completed. We all started getting up & the other team was cheering & ready for their trophy. No, no, no! The coaches informed us that this wasn't over yet. This game will have all 6 innings played, & not go by the clock that had just ran out. Cool! We
could come back IF we got our head in it & started playing smart, & like we were winners. Ok...let's play some more ball!!
Unfortunately for our girls, this just wasn't their game to win. We did get another run in, but by this time, they were so far ahead it would've taken a miracle for us to catch up & over-power them. We have done it before, but they just didn't have it in themselves to do it tonight.
In all reality, we beat ourselves. The stupid mistakes, dropped balls, missed catches & hesitation before the throw got us... with them smearing our butts in to the field dirt!
Our girls were sad as they hung their heads while the other team was screaming with delight. "Hold your heads up & be proud" was yelled by their coach - so they did!
All the girls from both teams joined together in a circle, holding hands, & recited "The Lord's Prayer". It was a wonderful site to see with all of them together like that. You wouldn't witness that anymore except in a small town. I liked it!
Then it was off to the side for our girls to meet with our coaches - & the other team pose for pictures with their new trophy.
So...we have to wait until our next game. We're "off" until Tuesday week (27th), so we'll only have practices beforehand.
Maybe the next one will be ours for the taking....
- meaning that I won't be ignoring anyone, I just won't know you left it at the time. I'll be checking in here & there over my spring break vacation time, but not all day/every day.
