Monday Brag 11-21

[grcsftbll]

I forgot last week, oops. I think this will be the last one til spring - I assume everybody mostly finished up this weekend in most areas?

We played in a local organization's world series this weekend. It's an org that the higher level teams mostly scorn but several A teams registered last minute for this one. About 5 teams dropped out when they did but I was excited to see how our girls would do. This fall we got 3 1st place finishes in B tournaments and 1 second place in a B state tournament. I felt like they might do OK.

The rules of the org allow 05s to play through Dec 31 in 10U so some of these teams picked up a bunch of 05s. I think it's lame to do that, personally, but not against the rules. We have all 06s except one who's an 07 (and she's become our #1 1B recently). There were 16 teams, and 2 pools. Top 4 in each would play gold, bottom 4 silver. We seeded gold, #4 seed, so we played the #1 seed in the other pool. One bracket game and we were done.

Here's the brag: first time ever playing against A level teams (real ones - one in particular is a big name that just won their big world series a few months ago). We have a VERY inexperienced team (my DD is really the only one w/ any A ball experience), some brand new to travel this fall. Not a single team shut us out. Not a single team got double digit runs on us. The worst score we had was 9-1, which was against the 2 A teams who I believe ended up taking 1st and 2nd of gold in the end. I feel like for our first time ever against teams on that level, they did really, really well.

 

[Jquick823]

Just practice this week. No camps until December 3rd.

 

[Me_and_my_big_mouth]

Last tournament of the year for us, then just camps December and January.

DD went alone for the first time (out of state) and had a blast. She played every minute of our 7 games, and did the camp. We told her when she left to squeeze every ounce of opportunity out of this trip because now is the time and she won't get another chance this year. Happy to say, she actually listened!

It was also her first time to have coaches she invited actually show up. We have a parent who periscopes the games - so we were able to watch. She played nervous but did well. One was her dream school, and I know her stomach was in knots. She was HBP first at-bat, and they called her in to hit again. She was able to produce a respectable knock and ended up stealing and scoring, so she's satisfied. No, it wasn't the HR she was dreaming of cracking, but it was work and she helped her team. Hope it was enough to at least continue the conversation, but we'll see.

Sidenote, because we are always discussing this on the board: We could hear tiny bits of the conversation between club recruiting coordinator and college coach. It really was all about those grades and AP classes she's taking. They have been consistently viewing her profile (we use softballrecruits.com) and coach emailed that she'd be coming to watch DD - just wasn't sure it would actually happen. Whether or not DD made a connection is another thing - but it was a huge milestone that she had 3 coaches actually show up and ask for her. First thing they always asked? Tell us about her grades...which proves 2 things we talk about a lot: 1) grades AND classes matter and 2) our recruiting site IS effective.

So I have a beaten up kid who is bruised, sore, and exhausted; but mentally she's ready for more!

 

[JAD]

Last tournament of the fall and DD's team won their berth to the USA Elite Nationals in Kansas City, MO.

 

[Little's Dad]

Played a RR @ Tx State over the weekend. Nothing too crazy. DD batted .500 over 4 games. Best part was that the coaching staff from TX State was watching, including Cat Osterman, who got to see DD's video live and in person.

https://youtu.be/Jl2y9TdTeUM

 

[grcsftbll]

Played a RR @ Tx State over the weekend. Nothing too crazy. DD batted .500 over 4 games. Best part was that the coaching staff from TX State was watching, including Cat Osterman, who got to see DD's video live and in person.

https://youtu.be/Jl2y9TdTeUM

So cool! She got some good hits

We did a fundraiser game once at GA State, and Cat was there. We had no idea she was going to be. DD was so freaking excited. One of the grandmas on the team told me to be sure to go home and google her and show DD who she is. I was like, um, she spotted Cat before I did. She definitely knew who she was! She still needs to meet Monica Abbott and Amanda Scarborough for her life to be complete though.

 

[softball dad 6]

Anybody every watch a tournament and think DD had a bad tournament then looked back and decided they are probably too hard on their DD. After watching DD play on Saturday I was sure she had forgotten how to play softball. On Saturday DD made 2 actual errors and 2 mental errors. We talked about things Saturday night and decided that it was probably a lack of focus on every pitch. It had been a long time since I had worried about what Sunday would bring. On Sunday she played completely differently. On Sunday DD fielded a squeeze bunt tagged the runner going to first out and threw runner out at third who had decided to go back to third. Next bunt DD charges to field and just as she fields it Batter/runner plows her over. Runner winds up doing a flip over DD and wound up on her back. Everyone comes out to check on the other girl and after a bit the umpire asks my DD who is still down on the ground if she is ok. Instead of telling the umpire if she is hurt she asks if she held onto the ball and if the girl was out.
At the plate she was 5 for 9 with a double, triple, and homerun. She also had a straight steal of third against a good catcher. I looked at her legs and arms today and she has scrapes and bruises all over them. I always want her to improve and do everything to the best of her abilities. Sometimes it is hard to remember they are 14 year old girls. I need to start a group called Softball Dads(Parents) Annonymous were we can admit all the mistakes we have made with our DDs. I am my DD's biggest critic and her biggest fan.
#6's dad

 

[CLM265]

Select Softball is #1 but DD does play other sports. She's a 5th grader and tried out for a Select basketball team this fall and at first didn't make the cut. A player dropped out and they asked her to join the team. She is used to working very hard at her softball skills so it's nice to see her carry over that work ethic to BB. In this weekends tourney it was great to see her make it into the starting rotation and she is also sharing the point guard duties.

BTW; her softball team has some great athletes on it and all but 3 play a mix of Rec or Select BB. The SB TB coach was even thinking/joking about their team entering a BB tourney for fun. Now that would be fun to see!

 

[nixxy311]

Select Softball is #1 but DD does play other sports. She's a 5th grader and tried out for a Select basketball team this fall and at first didn't make the cut. A player dropped out and they asked her to join the team. She is used to working very hard at her softball skills so it's nice to see her carry over that work ethic to BB. In this weekends tourney it was great to see her make it into the starting rotation and she is also sharing the point guard duties.

BTW; her softball team has some great athletes on it and all but 3 play a mix of Rec or Select BB. The SB TB coach was even thinking/joking about their team entering a BB tourney for fun. Now that would be fun to see!

DD is playing her second season of rec BB. This season we were able to have a team with all of her SB friends. Even two girls who attend a different school and play on other TB teams. They'll also all be playing flag FB together for the third year. The girls stay busy