The Video I promised. Homeruns #49 and #50

I went and search the various threads that I had started and didn't know which thread would be most appropraite to put these two videos. So, I started another thread. I will have some comments to follow when I get time. As I mentioned, they will be "that dad" comments and then, I'll finally let this sail off into the sunset.

Both of these home runs were massive blasts. The first one is off of a 1st Team All American. If you see the score board in right center, this ball clears the edge of the scoreboard and the street on the other side. It was 275+ feet. You can see the center fielder and the right fielders run for it and then give up. The home run to left went even further. If you have been to U. of Indy's field, you know that there is a netting above the fence which is really high and put there to prevent cars from getting hit at that intersections. Her ball cleared that fence, the street and hit the white truck you might notice sitting in the driveway. A very nice couple (parents) from U of Indy brought us the ball and knew it was her 50th home run. That was so nice of them. They said that they have never seen anyone clear that netting. I left the sound on since I wanted you to hear the contact. Disregard the crazy people cheering. LOL Any comments or questions are welcomed.

Here is video #2

Nice pokes! Awesome that you got those on video!!

What bat was she swinging?

Home runs are awesome, btw and fwiw.

I remember when my daughter hit her first one. She could've quit softball then and there and I would've been satisfied that I'd seen enough. Can't imagine what #50 in a college uniform would be like.

What size bat was she swinging?

Nice videos!

BB was swinging a 34 inch 24 oz. Black Miken. She really liked that bat. She hit 18 home runs this year. Last year, she hit 14 with the Miken Freak. However, when they got to Super Regional, her Freak was deemed, "too hot." Funny how it was fine for Regional play. She worried about the Black Miken but it was just fine. As some of you know, BB is very strong and a big girl. You can tell in the video.

Eric, another parent has one of those video programs some of you have mentioned on this site where you hook the camera on the fence. Man I wish I had known about that earlier. I didn't know they were videoing every game until the season was almost complete. I asked him if he had videoed the Indy games and he had.

Edited to add:

The home field where BB played was not known as a launching pad. The career record for home runs was 28 when she got there. The single season record was 12. This school has had softball since 1977 and softball became an NCAA sport, I believe in 1981. So, a lot of players have passed that way.

Edited again. I went and looked. The school's records go back to 1977.

She looks like a strong girl. Nice swing, great video!

I can't see where the ball went or when it cleared fence/wall...but it looks like her teammates came out before it cleared...as if it's a no-brainer that it's gone-gone-gone! Nice job!

maksoftball said:

I can't see where the ball went or when it cleared fence/wall...but it looks like her teammates came out before it cleared...as if it's a no-brainer that it's gone-gone-gone! Nice job!

Click to expand...

I also noticed that the YouTube is small. Here are the links to YouTube that will allow you to see a larger video of the home runs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8LUAspoH8k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBiS_OZPvwM

Here is the beginning of the “That Dad” posts and then, I’ll let this thread die.

When we were looking for a college program, naturally BB’s education was the top priority. BB wanted to be a teacher and so, she could go almost anywhere. BB decided to attend UMSL which was the top university in the State of Missouri for degrees in education. UMSL, at that time, had an average reputation for softball but had a new coach. We checked out, during the recruitment process, what was available to the athletes. As an fyi, at the end of each year, athletes are recognized for academic achievement. We checked to see how the softball team did before BB committed. It was an indicator of what the coach stressed.
At the school BB chose, freshmen had to attend “study group” and there is no getting out of it. Coach gets an email every day of who has attended. The AD gets the same email. A student can be released from study group after freshman year. They have to have a certain GPA to be released or they have to continue to attend study group. Students who are allowed to forgo study group are entitled to get help there at any time. When BB checked in, she always made sure to go talk to one particular person/administrator so that she would be seen in the study group as well as to see who was available to tutor if she needed it. She was allowed to leave after her freshman year but attended most days anyway. They had so many resources. Tutors, printers, places to organize study groups, … It would be foolish to not take advantage of it. The end result of this was that BB did well in school. Here is a list of her academic achievements but I want you to note that I directly attribute a lot of this to her university and their involvement with student athletes. BB has to be organized and this structure that UMSL offered directly affected her success in the classroom. Oh, one other thing, it was not uncommon to see her professors in the stands. That meant a lot to the team in general.

Academic Awards:

• 2015 CAPITAL ONE ACADEMIC ALL MIDWEST TEAM
• 2015 CAPITAL ONE ACADEMIC ALL AMERICAN 2ND TEAM
• 2015 Female Student Athlete of the Year UMSL
• 2015 Academic All GLVC Team
• 2015 GLVC President’s Academic Excellence Award
• 2014 Academic All GLVC Team
• 2014 NFCA All-Academic Team
• 2013 Academic All GLVC Team
• 2012 Mark Twain Scholar

Why post this obvious parent brag? Softball is not the end all to what your dd is going to do in college or after. You have to make sure that you check this stuff out. When we went into the study resource room, I knew right away that my dd would be in there almost every day. It is the way she is. If your child needs tutoring, you have to make sure how and where it is going to be done. Not all universities offer tutoring in the same way. This atmosphere also enabled BB to get to know all the other student athletes. That is important whether you realize it or not. They will need friends in classes who can take notes etc. when your dd is on the road. BB had basketball, soccer and volleyball friends who she helped and who helped her. BTW, some were boys. She is dating one of them now. Soccer player. (and great kid)