Reminiscing about my first season of travel ball

I've been either sitting around at friends, practicing softball or working on cheer to get ready for the upcoming high school football season and I've just been thinking back on just how awesome my first season playing on a travel ball softball team has been. The cool people I've either met or had as teammates, the friends I've made and just the goofy fun we've had over the summer. Some of my favorite memories being...

Going as a group with all of our teammate's, coaches and chaperones families to Hersheypark for a day and trying to ride all of the rollercoasters in one day.

Loading up to go to a tournament to go to the Virginia shore and heading down there with a chaperone, which was our left fielder and second baseman's sister, who is soon going to be traveling to China to study for her entire Junior year. We went down there in her Jeep Liberty. But the whole trip going down there, we were acting like goofballs singing and messing up different popular songs from the past and present. Once down there, our entire team and chaperones shopped in the little beach front stores and we all bought sombreros and used them as rally caps for the tournament (mine hangs above the bed).

Remebering all of the spectacular plays we all made during the tournaments like our left fielders spectacular diving catch to rob a hitter of a double. Our second baseman making a spectaular diving catch. My walk off grand slam last tournament. Plus many other great plays.

I have many more great memories from this summer with our team. But I'm wondering what's some of your memories from summer softball seasons gone by?

Isnt this the core of why our kids play sports/extra curriculars. It should be about creating memories experiences and relationships. It should be fun. Awesome post

I remember when DD was 10 playing her first TB tournament. Leaving house for what was to be a lot of 8AM starts at 6:00. I had no idea what was in store. Now that she is 15 and not sure if this is the last year I remember a lot of good plays, but also the time we got to spend together. Watching some of the teams and the goofballs on them. Seeing 12 girls in a 5 person hot tub, having a cocktail with some of the greatest people I have ever met. Watching kids play their hearts out in tough conditions from snow games to 112 degree games. My only regret over all the years was that DD may have done what she thought I wanted versus what she wanted. But she has made some great friends over the years and I have gotten to watch her play most of her games.

inde53546 said:

Isnt this the core of why our kids play sports/extra curriculars. It should be about creating memories experiences and relationships. It should be fun. Awesome post

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We did have a blast this summer. We have one more local tournament before our season ends and we wish 8 players off to 18u. We tryout again the first Friday in August (I think its the 4th) for fall ball clear up to summer ball. We also get a few weeks off before we hit the field to practice for fall ball. So my family is taking a week trip to Florida. Should be fun.

That's what it's all about! DD's team had their last tournament last week. After it was over they all hugged, cried, took selfies and pictures for at least 30 minutes. Some girls are leaving, some are staying, some are aging up. All at once it hit them that this was their last game together as a team. It seriously almost brought a tear my eye. Not that the season was over or from watching the girls all balling, but the thought that all of these girls genuinely love and care about each other. I am very proud of DD for being a part of that. It really puts softball into perspective.

The friendships are great.

Sorry to be long with this, but I have lots of kids, and all have been involved in sports in some way.

My oldest and only son started rowing when he was a sophomore in HS. He will be a senior in college next year, and rows for the Milwaukee School of Engineering. This summer he has the opportunity to row in a development camp at U of Wisconsin, and one of his HS rowing buddies is on the Wisconsin team. So the two of them, who were friends in HS, got to renew their friendship this summer. In the meantime, he shares an apartment in Milwaukee with two other guys. All three have the same major and take the same classes, and all 3 are on the rowing team. So he has a group of friends on his team who will be friends of his hopefully for life.

My oldest daughter only played softball for 3 years, mostly to hang out with her friends. She had a lot of talent, but for her softball was just fun. I remember when she graduated from HS, we went to a party at the house of one of her very closest friends. They were best buddies since kindergarten. They played LL softball together. At one point I heard a bunch of girls talking about all the good times they had playing LL and HS softball.

My middle daughter didn't do much in the way of sports.

My youngest daughter started playing softball in the 4th grade. A few days ago she spent the night at the house of a close friend, and they have been teammates 3 times in LL, twice in TB, and once in JV softball. Oh, and my oldest DD was once a teammate of this girl back in 2011. They were on different teams this past summer, but they are trying to see if they can be on the same team next year. They are still making memories.

mudrunner said:

That's what it's all about! DD's team had their last tournament last week. After it was over they all hugged, cried, took selfies and pictures for at least 30 minutes. Some girls are leaving, some are staying, some are aging up. All at once it hit them that this was their last game together as a team. It seriously almost brought a tear my eye. Not that the season was over or from watching the girls all balling, but the thought that all of these girls genuinely love and care about each other. I am very proud of DD for being a part of that. It really puts softball into perspective.

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I love this ^^^.

After DD's last tourney this year everyone just walked away. No hugs, no tears - nothing. Just one more reason DD decided to move on. There was no team chemistry - it was a lot of "me" players. Good players no doubt, but not a team.

Dd's first year of TB was so much fun. They won very few games but the chemistry on and off the field was unmatched. Those girls loved each other. Some of DD's best softball buddies to this day are from that team. Over the years she has seen many highs and many lows. She has learned how to be a good teammate, friend, cheerleader, dugout keeper, and athlete. I don't think she would give up any minute of any year because they all combine to make her who she is today. I know she still has a few more years to make memories on the SB field and I look forward to what the future holds for her!

A few days ago DD 3's team's season ended. The team has been moving up together, so the vast majority of the girls will be back. AT the time of the last game, DD 3 knew she wasn't coming back, but it was a secret. So DD 3 was crying up a storm, while everyone else was thinking "see you soon". Not long afterwards the mother of one of the girls told me she knew DD 3 was leaving because of her tears.

BobInMadison said:

A few days ago DD 3's team's season ended. The team has been moving up together, so the vast majority of the girls will be back. AT the time of the last game, DD 3 knew she wasn't coming back, but it was a secret. So DD 3 was crying up a storm, while everyone else was thinking "see you soon". Not long afterwards the mother of one of the girls told me she knew DD 3 was leaving because of her tears.

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I know a little of how your daughter feels, Bob. I'll be shedding tears with the girls that are moving up to 18u. I think we have 5 or 6 girls returning that will be trying out next Friday (the 4th) for next year.