The Video I promised. Homeruns #49 and #50

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Cannonball

Ex "Expert"
Feb 25, 2009
4,854
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"That Dad" post 2.

Both BB and I owe a lot to several people for her success. Certainly Brett Swip of the Collinsville Extreme was of great help both in 16U and 18U. BB now coaches in his program. Coach Bendall of the Tomahawks Program was one of the first guys who really believed in her. He was the one that asked us to let him coach her and move her up. She was going to be 14U, could have played another 12U and suddenly, she was playing 16U and 18U at 13 years of age. He helped get her ready for HS. BB absolutely loves Coach Bendall. Kent Lewis was her Rec coach and when the local rec program started creating rules on a weekly basis directed at BB, he took that rec team out of the league and we started TB in mid summer. It was like the Wild West and I laugh even now about it. Man was that fun! Kent's brother Bruce was her HS coach and he let her start shagging balls at a very early age. He told me he knew she start as a freshman when she was in 7th grade. Bruce was a good mix of knowledgeable coach who could be tough and yet, BB had a great time playing for him. He did make her cry a few times but you know what, he also patted her on the back.

During the recruitment process, BB met a coach at a D-I school who was then trying to recruit her to that school. Long story short, he took the job at UMSL and called her. UMSL is 34 minutes from our house. At that time, my Mom was on Hospice and so, BB also wanted to be close to home because of Mom. Coach Levin of UMSL was absolutely the best thing that could have happened to BB. When it comes to playing success, he has to be give so much credit. Believing in her the way he did and making sure that she knew it. BB was hurt in the Bellarmine game the last regular season weekend and her knee looked like a basketball. Still, she practiced every day and begged to be in the lineup. He went to her one game and told her during an at bat that he believed in her no matter what. It was hard watching those last weeks because I knew she couldn't swing it like normal. Coach Levin showed that commitment to her from day one. I couldn't say enough good stuff about him in a lifetime. My daughter loves Coach Levin and, as she said in an interview after the season was over, she felt like she could go to him with any problem. He was her second dad. When that last out was made and the teams had gone through the lines, naturally players and coaches hugged each other. When Coach and BB hugged, you knew that both of them were hurting.

BB's Career Stats:

Career Stats:
  • .358 life time Batting Average (#2 All Time)
  • .454 On Base Percentage
  • 219 games out of 219 possible games started (Probably #1 - mathematically can’t be anyone else )
  • 656 at bats (No Record Kept)
  • 122 runs (In top 3)
  • 43 doubles (In top 4)
  • 50 home runs (#1)
  • 235 hits (#1)
  • 170 RBIs (#1)
  • 428 total bases (#1)
  • 114 Bases on Balls (No record kept but #1 when I researched it.)

Again, why the obvious daddy brag? These stats and her success is directly due to the guys who helped coach her. Kent made her laugh. Coach Bendall made her love the game. Coach Swip put her on a team that will go down as one of the top TB teams this area has seen. Coach Lewis made her HS experience one to remember. Coach Levin allowed her to have a career that hopefully will put her in UMSL's Hall of Fame. The people that you put in charge of your dd will directly affect them. You have to make sure that you pick the right people to mentor your child. No players success is simply a dad-mom/daughter thing. My kid was so blessed by being coached by these guys! I want to wish all of you well. I hope that you have half of the fun I have had on our journey. There is not one thing I would change.
 
Last edited:
Feb 14, 2010
592
18
CB,

Thanks for sharing BB's journey with us. It's been a pleasure to track her and I love to read your post about her because I know how hard she's worked to get where she is. You are a proud dad and have every right to be. The amount of work and sacrifice it takes from the entire family to reach this point is what people don't understand looking from the outside.

Personally,I know I wouldn't trade all the money,tears and injuries for something easier and I know your the same way. This game needs people like BB and yourself to stay involved and coach the younger generation on how to play the right way.

Well done CB and BB and thanks for the ride.
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
CB,

Thanks for sharing BB's journey with us. It's been a pleasure to track her and I love to read your post about her because I know how hard she's worked to get where she is. You are a proud dad and have every right to be. The amount of work and sacrifice it takes from the entire family to reach this point is what people don't understand looking from the outside.

Personally,I know I wouldn't trade all the money,tears and injuries for something easier and I know your the same way. This game needs people like BB and yourself to stay involved and coach the younger generation on how to play the right way.

Well done CB and BB and thanks for the ride.

What he said ^^^
 

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