Helen's Softball Wrap-up

I think we convinced Helen to wear a pair of Connor's old baseball pants to exactly one game this season. They simply are not stylish enough for her, and since there was probably only one other girl who wore them, we didn't have much of an argument about them being part of the required uniform.

Helen possibly agreed that pants might work better than shorts (even though there's no sliding in her league - or at least no intentional sliding), so she took to wearing a pair of leggings under her jersey.

All of her games happened early in the morning, so either Ed or I trotted out to each game with coffee in hand. We both went to a few games, which gave me the opportunity to snap a few photos of Ed's mid-game coaching session with Helen.

I suspect every softball photo I have that includes an adult also includes a coffee cup.

Ready for action! She was actually quite aggressive in the field, and got pretty good at tracking down balls and flinging them in the correct direction.

And she also became a pretty reliable hitter. 

Helen is much better at softball than she thinks, but as confident as she is about many things, that confidence doesn't seem to overflow into her softball life. But I'm pretty sure she's planning on giving it at least one more season.

Go Hurricanes!

Elaine

Play Ball! Softball, Year 2

I was excited to attend my first softball game of the season last Saturday. I missed Helen's prior two games because I was in Minnesota and then running a relay marathon with friends. Sadly, it was a little too overcast on Saturday so I didn't get many fantastic photos of Helen staring down her opponents or generally looking fierce.

Helen is definitely becoming more proficient at the game, and was able to get an unassisted out at first base, track down a few balls and launch them in the generally right direction, and run hard. She was victim to the great softball tragedy on her first at-bat. She nailed the ball (which is pretty rare in Helen's league), but someone the other team fielded the ball properly and got her out. However - because she hit the ball to the outfield, she was able to collect on the $1 reward Connor has offered her before the game - so she was still pretty please about the contact.

Elaine

Play Ball!

My parents came to visit last weekend, which means we were going full tilt. They came to watch Connor play baseball and soccer and Helen play softball. Although Connor's Thursday game was cancelled to rain, the back-to-back-to-back weekend lineup held up, and my parents trotted from field to field, praising their higher power more than once that this was a weekend event for them, and not their regular life.

The last time my parents came to watch Connor play baseball, he made a crazy play in the outfield, catching the ball and then getting it back to the first baseman cleanly and quickly. It was great to watch. This time, he turned on his bat with a 3 for 4 performance (something he's been working on) which resulted in a few huge grins. The team ended the regular season undefeated and head to the play-offs tomorrow. Go team!

Soccer was hot - as were the games Connor played yesterday and today.

After the game, Connor and I chatted and then he had a huge grin for my parents. Somehow, he looks so old in the photo with me. He really has become a pleasant person to chat with.

Helen had more of her awesome game-day looks, and hit the ball to the outfield! It wasn't in the air that whole distance, but it eventually meandered its way out there, rolling lazily by the girls on the other team.

Helen played her last game yesterday. I accompanied Connor to his game (Ed and I generally trade off who we watch) and then Connor and I dashed over to see Helen's last at-bat of the year. It was a great season. I suspect about half of the girls on the team understand the general concept of the game, which puts them squarely in the running for tops in their league.

And now...on to summer sports!

Elaine

Play Ball!

Helen tends to prefer crafting over running. She can string beads for hours, but ask her to play soccer and she'll pretend to play by standing in front of the goal and deeming herself the goalie. In part, I think this stems from the competition in the house. Who wants to be constantly outdone by a big brother?

I'm not exactly sure how Ed did it, but someone he convinced Helen to try girls' softball. She attended a clinic with girls ranging from Kindergarten through grade 3, and that about made her throw in the towel. We talked her off the ledge by explaining that the third grade girls were on different teams.

During Helen's first practice, which I note was held when it was cold enough outside that Connor's team opted to skip practice (good for me, as I had one fewer places to get a child to that night), the head coach's older daughter played first base. Helen walked out of practice excitedly reporting they had a THIRD GRADE GIRL on the team - which obviously a ringer, and obviously good news. She was a little disappointed when she learned the third grader wasn't a permanent part of the team.

She's tougher than she thinks. And she can stare down anyone.

Practices were rained and snowed out and finally, Saturday arrived, and it was game time. Helen was nervous before the game, noting they'd only practiced once. Ed and I assured her that the coaches would tell her what to do. And really, Helen has no idea, but she has absorbed a lot about baseball over the past three years. She's in great shape.

The game went off without a hitch. Helen played hard, hit the ball off the tee, and ran straight down the line. One of the assistant coaches spent a lot of time with her, which really made her feel good about what was going on.

My heart melted at the end of the game. We were leaving and Helen exclaimed "That was awesome!".

Indeed, Helen. You go girl.

Elaine