Great memories....2012 USFA World Series

[JAD]

Today's Facebook memory was a picture from our USFA World Series in PCB in 2012. I have been to a lot of Nationals during my DD's career, but this one is still my favorite. We rented a condo on the beach and the whole family came - siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, grandparents. Everyone LOVES the beach even if they do not love softball. We played games in the morning and had afternoons off to enjoy the beach. Right across the street from our hotel was an oyster bar named Shuckums, and I had raw oysters and a pitcher of beer for dinner 5 nights in a row.

Our team was playing well, and we managed to win the 14U age group as a first year team going 10-0 for the week. While it was not ASA (PGF, TCS, JO Cup, and USSSA Elite Select did not exist at the time), we were on cloud 9 for a week after the win. We were also still a Church team at this point, formed from our local Church REC league program. The look on some of the opposing coaches faces after they realized they were just beaten by a Church team was priceless!

After this season we were invited to join a Tier-2 organization and decided to play for a berth to ASA Nationals. While ASA Nationals provided great competition the locations we have been to were not exactly vacation destinations, therefore, it is just DD and I who attend. For some reason none of our extended family members got excited about coming with us to Normal, IL...the second picture is from our 2013 trip to ASA Nationals in Normal, IL....they say a picture is worth a thousand words!

 

[IRONMAN]

Great post and I totally agree. DD team is a 1st year 16U team. We went to ASA Nat's for the past 4 years in a row. This year, we only played showcases and accepted a waiver from the state director to go play ASA Southern Nat's next week (didn't play in the ASA state last weekend). I tried and tried and tried to get our team manager to book us in the U-trip Nat's in PCB, just so we could go to the beach.

No luck

 

[Jdaddy]

We went to PCB twice, once in 10's and once in 12's as a local B team. I think we were there in 2012 as 10's. We made it to the final eight as 12's fighting out of the losers bracket and winning 5 games on Friday. Such great memories!

 

[Rambler34]

We made what will probably be our last trip down there this year at least with DD#1. DD played 2 years in 8's, 2 in 10's, and just finished playing up in 14's. We have so many memories from the youngest playing in the sand the first time as a 10 month old to nights at Shuckums to parent "meetings" by the pool where too much was consumed.

One thing I can say is I hated playing down there because the parks were not great. They have totally redone Frank Brown and it is very nice now.

 

[JAD]

We made what will probably be our last trip down there this year at least with DD#1. DD played 2 years in 8's, 2 in 10's, and just finished playing up in 14's. We have so many memories from the youngest playing in the sand the first time as a 10 month old to nights at Shuckums to parent "meetings" by the pool where too much was consumed.

One thing I can say is I hated playing down there because the parks were not great. They have totally redone Frank Brown and it is very nice now.

We call our meetings "coaches meetings" so I could tell my DW my attendance was mandatory since I was an AC.

 

[Jdaddy]

We made what will probably be our last trip down there this year at least with DD#1. DD played 2 years in 8's, 2 in 10's, and just finished playing up in 14's. We have so many memories from the youngest playing in the sand the first time as a 10 month old to nights at Shuckums to parent "meetings" by the pool where too much was consumed.

One thing I can say is I hated playing down there because the parks were not great. They have totally redone Frank Brown and it is very nice now.

That pic I posted was after a pool game at HG Harders, it was like playing in a sand trap! Not to mention it was 45 minutes from our hotel. Still fun though.

 

[Rambler34]

That pic I posted was after a pool game at HG Harders, it was like playing in a sand trap! Not to mention it was 45 minutes from our hotel. Still fun though.

Harders is still a sand trap. our pitcher had a hard time warming up in foul territory because it was so soft. Luckily we only played their once. They did have huge misting fans between fields which was nice.

 

[JAD]

Harders is still a sand trap. our pitcher had a hard time warming up in foul territory because it was so soft. Luckily we only played their once. They did have huge misting fans between fields which was nice.

Playing on a sandy field near the beach is almost expected, it is when you are in EBF playing ASA in a sand trap that makes me do a facepalm....