Softball Success Story

Caroline's school started a new girls softball program this year.  When they started, Caroline was the only junior, and there were no seniors.  About half the team was still in middle school.  I fully expected it to be one long, dismal season.  Building a foundation may be ultimately rewarding, but it's no fun while you're doing it.  Generally.  We saw that around here when a new high school (Reagan) opened up with just underclassmen.  I don't think they won a football game for 3 years.  I worried about the same thing happening to the Calvary girls.

When they lost their first game badly, something like 20-1, i figured my fears were confirmed.  But then they WON their next game almost as easily.  And then the next.  Turned out we weren't all that bad.  Anchored by a stellar freshman pitcher, and supplemented by another junior whom Caroline recruited to join the team, who became the catcher and clean-up hitter, the girls logged a nice 10-5 regular season record, and the #2 spot in their district.  Coach was named coach of the year.  Well deserved.

Caroline started off at 3B, but the coach moved her to CF.  She wasn't thrilled about it, because when they're playing a weaker team, she hardly gets any action in the outfield.  But she's fast to the ball, and her defense becomes much more important when they play the good teams.  In their final game, she threw out a runner at 3B with a perfect peg.  I told her "that's why the coach moved you." 

He also altered her batting style.  Before, she swung almost totally with her arms.  She has a quick bat and a decent eye.  The coach taught her this walk-forward approach, similar to a Japanese professional style, where she takes a couple of steps toward the pitcher as the pitch arrives, which gives her a moving, running start toward first base.  Since she bats lefty and is a fast runner, this allows her to get on base pretty much as long as she makes contact.  It's termed slap hitting, and is apparently all the rage in softball (didn't know until searching for a link just now).

Anyhow, congrats to the Cougar girls team!  Hopefully, everyone can return next season to take the district championship.