Softball

Thursday, August 17, 2023

Well, we’re back at it.

At what? Softball. More specifically, travel softball. For over a decade, softball has been a HUGE part of our lives. My kiddo has tried just about every sport. I encouraged her to find what she loves to do, which requires a lot of trial and error. She tried soccer, that didn’t last. She got hit square in the face with the ball right before pictures, so that was the end of that. She tried tennis, she like it but not enough to pursue it past after school care. She tried basketball and that lasted longer than I expected. Thing is, my kiddo is short. She got her dad’s height genes and I don’t think she’s going to get any taller than her current 5’3”… on a side note, I’m a little happy about that as it’s easier to be the authority figure when you’re 5” taller (I’m 5’8”). Even with the height disadvantage, she was still better than I ever was, not that that’s saying much because I am TERRIBLE at basketball. She tried volleyball, I even paid for 5 months of lessons, but she just didn’t have the passion for it. She even tried the theater. Despite being good at it, getting lead roles in the only two plays she ever auditioned for, she said it just wasn’t for her. After a 6 week run at our local Acting Company’s production of “Gypsy”, which my kiddo was Baby June, she said, and I quote, “Acting is too much work.” The only thing that I would NOT allow is cheerleading. Nope, I would end up punch someone. It’s best for all that we avoided that particular activity.

The only thing that has stuck is softball. I won’t like, I’m overjoyed that it’s what stuck. I don’t understand soccer, I hate basketball (it’s the squeaky shoes, I just can’t handle it), tennis is okay as is volleyball, but softball is in our blood. I played softball, my dad, brother, cousins, all played baseball. My pap was a little league ump. We are a ball family. And my daughter is good. I’m not just saying that because I’m her mom, nope, my kid has the stats to back that statement up. She’s received MVP’s, Coaches Awards, Game Balls, Player of the Game/Tournament from both coaches and even umpires. It’s also something that brings her a lot of joy, gets her motivated and active, and creates some consistency in her life.

My daughter’s softball career takes up a lot of my life. It’s practically a full time job to be a softball mom. It’s become part of my identity as much as a player is part of my kiddo’s. We both have our gear. Mine just happens to be a chair, wagon, umbrella, recording equipment, my iPad (I’m usually her team’s scorekeeper), the cooler with snacks and extra waters, a fan, and I could go on, and on. The night before a tournament, I have to be sure to charge all of the electronic devices, ensure that the cooler is ready, and that she know what uniform she’s wearing. I have to adjust work schedules to ensure that she gets to practices, lessons, scrimmages, team events, tournaments, and single game days on time. In fact, during my interview at my current employer, I emphasized how important my daughter’s softball career was and that I have NEVER missed a game and I was not going to start now. Seriously, I have not missed one single game since she started Farm Ball (one step above T-Ball).

Travel ball at this level is serious business. If a girl is playing ball at her age, they have aspirations to play in college. This is when scouts are out, when camp offers are sent, when recruiters start paying attention. It’s also very intense and very expensive. And, oh boy, is travel ball expensive. Not only do you have season dues (ranging from a couple hundred to a couple thousand, depending on the team), but you have the cost of uniforms, shoes, equipment (oh, did I mention my kiddo is a catcher? Just Google how much adult women’s catcher’s gear costs), bats (which can be upwards of $500 EACH), gloves (field, batting, catching), socks, belts, helmets, and a bag to put it all in. That’s not even all of the equipment. On top of that, there’s the “parent gear” (see above), the cost of travel including food, gas, airfare, hotels, and, oh yeah, the cost to get INTO the tournament. You read that right. The majority of leagues charge daily gate fees to get into see your kid play.

But you know what… it’s all worth it. For her, every penny spent is an investment. An investment in her health, happiness, wellbeing, social skills, pride, teamwork, and her future. Even if I had saved every cent that I’ve spent in the last 10+ years into a savings account, it still wouldn’t cover the value that the sport has had for her. And when she goes off to college in two years, I am going to miss every minute of it, the good times and the bad.

All of that is to say, she started fall travel ball practice today.

Now, if you excuse me, I can’t, my kid has practice, a game, or whatever.