DD is second year 16U. She hasn't been a pitcher since 12U, but got an emergency start in the third and final game of pool play today. It was quite the struggle. She had a 7-3 leading heading to the bottom of the final inning, but two errors, three walks and a hit or two loaded the bases, 7-5 with only one out. After a brief conference in the circle, DD struck out the number 3 hitter on 4 pitches and then got the number 4 hitter to pop out. First win in 4 years. It was pretty average softball to be sure. Light years away from the competition she will see this summer, but there was a realization (at least for me) that this was probably the last game she will ever pitch, and it brought back a number of great memories. I even got to warm her up a bit late in the second pool play game, and for 10 minutes I was a bucket dad again. I almost cried. 
