What is your DD's ''journey"?

[TMD]

My daughter's journey is soon to move into a different plane. Senior in high school, just starting her final season of HS ball and looking forward to her final summer of TB. Off to college in August, where she will continue to play at the next level (D-III), but she is prepared for it to be very different than what she is used to. Being on her own for the first time, the very real pressures of college academics at a "high academic" school, and balancing all of that with the commitment of playing college softball...will be an interesting year.

Her journey to this point has been much like many others have posted here - athletic kid, played multiple sports, softball rose to the top during middle school and became her primary sport in high school. Most proud of her that in this day and age of players (or maybe more accurately parents) always seemingly looking for a "better opportunity" and jumping from organization to organization, she has stayed with the same TB organization from 8U all the way through. She stayed playing at a high level, worked hard on her game without needing to be pushed, worked equally hard in the classroom and earned strong grades and high test scores, knew what she wanted at the college level and actively connected with coaches at target schools, got recruited and accepted at multiple schools, and ultimately made her decision. Can't wait to see where this journey takes her next.

 

[catchermama]

But I do believe that softball taught her how to handle the adversity of not being the best every single minute. She learned to pick herself up and do it again. And I think she is happier person for that.

That's a great point. Softball does teach them to work through adversity. Before this season, my DD had never really struggled to play. She actually doesn't struggle much at anything - one of those kids that gets A's without studying. This very tough season of softball she's having right now may be a good life lesson for her even after softball ends.

 

[kjmpa]

DD1 didn't start travel till 1st year 16U - played tball, little league, ASA rec prior. Took a year off in 6th grade - softball became her game (not mine) after that year off. Grew strong and fast and had elbow issues after 1st year of travel due to poor mechanics. Went to PT and relearned to throw properly - was invited back to join a 18U team after not being able to tryout that August. Sophomore year in HS she was diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis - couldn't straighten her fingers. Treatment put it in remission but she was taking some serious meds. After two years of 18U B ball decided to tryout for a Gold team her senior year-went by herself. Made it! HS career ended great (all league, etc..) but was up and down - when coach was arrested the fall before her senior year a lot more made sense. We had been visiting colleges and was recruited to play D3. Right before her first college fall season found out she had Mono over that summer and her spleen was enlarged. Prayed, retested a week later and she only missed 1 day of fall ball. Loved her college team and got playing time freshman and sophomore year - hit .333 and .385. We were all excited for junior year - out of nowhere, coach cut her (and others) 3 days into fall season. Worked events all summer for the team's spring break (they leave this weekend). DD came home crushed from the meeting with no courtesy no reasons - brought 4 players in together and said no spot for you. Humiliated - small school where she had classes with teammates every day - but she persevered and finished the semester with a 3.93. Something we've never seen before. She applied the day after she was cut and transferred to a D2 school for this January - coach took a meeting with her this past November -knew her from years of camps - and she is now rostered on a top NCAA D2 team and having the time of her life. The athletic and academic upgrade is amazing. She's working hard and knows that one man's view of her does not define her. She knows her life and path is beyond what any illness (she still is on maintenance meds), injury or coach can control. We talk about purpose - she knows she's there for one - not sure what it is, and we may never know what or why - but she's living it everyday. She leaves for her Florida trip next week and I get to watch twice the games as the last two years and we are all grateful for every step of this journey because we know that it is guided by every step of faith along the way! DD2 has a story too, but I'll save it. She's learned a lot from her sister


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[Greenmonsters]

DD finished softball and college last year, but...spoiler alert coming.........I'm realizing that her journey is still much closer to its beginning than it is to the end.

 

[Elk Grove Hurricane]

Her journey is to go to Harvard, Stanford or Yale, for free, and then become CEO of Disney. Gotta love the 10 year old mindset, those are seriously her words. For softball: her challenges are coming out of her shell, she has a ton of confidence but nobody would ever know it because she is so shy. Hoping this sport continues to foster her competitiveness and teach her to never fear putting herself out there.

She has overcome the paralysis by analysis, and still struggles with assertiveness around other good players. She continues to learn that there's nothing wrong with taking charge even if she thinks someone else is pretty good.

She can be incredibly perceptive and conscientious towards others, and strangely enough would rather not play with friends. She doesn't mind being part of the group but tends to form close friendships with 1-2 others.

 

[Jdaddy]

When I read this yesterday, the first thing that came to mind is all of the friendships my daughter has made through softball. There is nothing more heartwarming than to see two teenagers hug each other and know their minds go back to when they were 8,9,10 years old. You see it in their eyes, for just a minute, they are those kids again.

The couple of young ladies that my DD has met at camps; for some magical reason certain kids just click. My DD still communicates with a young lady from the Chicago area that she met one time at the Indiana U camp last year.

All the girls from that special team in 12U that made a six game run in the losers bracket at PCB to finish in the top eight of the B bracket. Those girls crying together at the end, not only because they lost, but because everyone of them gave each other all they had for a week and they were spent. This is the most satisfying and heartbreaking thing I have seen while my DD has played softball. Most of that group of girls and parents are like family to this day.

The kids from the first nationally known A team my DD was a part of that had a chance to be great, but disbanded after a year, due to some major changes that came from the top. It was the first time softball felt like a business to me and my DD. It was an innocence lost. A lot of parents from that team still talk about what could have been when we see each other on opposing teams at the ball field. You see the same what could have been look between some of these girls too when they see each other.

Then there is highschool ball. What a great group of girls my DD has been blessed to play with so far. The senior catcher last year who's off playing in college that could have gotten upset that DD got to catch about 25% of the varsity games as a freshman. Instead, she coached her and gave her scouting reports on who would try to steal and who were good candidates to pick off. She also made sure DD was welcomed on the team. What a great softball mentor for my kid.

And then there are two kids that have played together all but one season of TB since they were nine years old. They don't hang out much anymore outside of ball because their interests have changed, but there is no other teammate either of them would rather play with. I believe these two are connected for life because of this sport and their journey.

 

[softgabby]

As a player, I'd say my biggest weakness is that I'm my own worst critic. I'll let the smallest mistake eat away at me and fester at me. Like, I can go 2 of 4 with two doubles, a sacrifice fly that brings in a run and a strikeout. I won't rest on my laurels and be proud I hit two doubles and hit a ball that was a productive out... I'll let my mind fester on that strikeout even though my coaches praise my other efforts.

I've done this on tests too where I might mess up on a simple question. I'll beat myself up over it and won't be proud of myself when I've earned a 92 on that same test.

 

[Il softball fan]

"When I read this yesterday, the first thing that came to mind is all of the friendships my daughter has made through softball. There is nothing more heartwarming than to see two teenagers hug each other and know their minds go back to when they were 8,9,10 years old. You see it in their eyes, for just a minute, they are those kids again."

Thanks Jdaddy.....hit me right in the feels.

 

[IRONMAN]

Seems like a big step for her to jump in to softball for the first time in 10u.

Mine started playing BB at 4 and played until she was 12. She initially did not want to play SB, we had to beg her. She played basketball as a 6th and 7th grader, and decided to go out for SB, so her first game was middle school 8th grade and our first TB team was as a second year 14U.

Hindsight, I wish we could have convinced her to start SB at 12U, but she didn't want to leave her friends on the BB team, many she had been playing with for many years. She is sophomore in HS now, and she has turned out ok.

She's been giving some boys in the neighborhood BB pitching and hitting lessons - LOL. The boys love it too.

 

[HSCoach]

Long time reader, former TB coach, and current HS coach here and first time poster.

My daughter, 18 year old HS senior, has had a fantastic journey that had an ending that I never anticipated. We have kept the SE hot playing softball since she was 9 years old. We have made many great memories and friendships along the way. Her junior year ended with a 32-1 record and a state title. She went 7-8 with 3HRs that weekend and was treated like a rock star for a few day!. She also signed to play two years with a local JUCO.

Fast forward to November 2016 of her senior year. I come home from running the scoreboard at a junior high basketball game and my wife meets me in the kitchen, with tears pouring down her face, and informs me that my daughter was pregnant. My world was rocked. Every thought you could imagine went through my mind. Anger, sadness, frustration, worry, uncertainty, and almost any other word you can think of. My wife told me to gather my thoughts and the best advice she ever gave me when she said "She will always remember how you treat her tonight..."....

Well now I am still coaching with all of the girls she came up playing with, but there is a sadness because she is not out there with us anymore. I will say that I have loved my daughter through all of the pain and sadness and have done my best to convince her that softball does NOT define who you are as a person and is only a small part of your life in the grand scheme of things... On that note, I will be welcoming a granddaughter into my world in July, so I cannot wait to watch her begin her journey in the softball world! I may just coach a few more years...