Women's Softball

A couple of weeks ago, I watched on television the finals of the women’s college softball championship.  After watching teams play in the regionals, I was pleased to see Florida State win the national championship.

Why the interest in women’s softball?  My daughter, Mary, played three years in high school and I watched her play every game I could get to.  During the first game I watched during her sophomore year, she played third base and went back for a foul ball, dogging spectators, and made an over the shoulder catch.  The next batter hit a slow roller to third.  She charged it and threw a strike to first base beating the runner by a stride.  I knew immediately she was a better third baseman than I ever was.

My experience playing third base was with the Babe Ruth League in Ocala (ages 13 to 15, I believe).  I made the all star team and we won the Florida State Championship before a defeat at the regionals in Tennessee.  I was okay at third base and had a batting average over 400, but the regionals in Tennessee were my last baseball games.  I never played again.

I remember one of Mary’s close games when, with the bases loaded, she hit a line drive so hard to center field that it was still rising when it passed the center fielder.  She just looked at it, then turned and jogged to retrieve it.  Mary was rounding third before the center fielder even touched the ball.

Mary went on to gain all-county honors and her team played in postseason tournaments.  It was a fun time for me.

I also love to watch women’s soccer on TV.  I’ll try to remember to write a blog about Mary’s and our son’s best sport.

Seasoned Man