I had one great day with my daughter. She had an All-Star softball tournament all day. Overall we had a super fun day. It very much reminded me of going to my sister’s swim meets when I was very young. Today was one of those days that changed my daughter’s and my life forever. We had a double elimination tournament in Bryant that would last all day long.
I woke up before 7 am. I had to get Miller up and dressed to be at the field by 8 am. I woke up on my own and headed upstairs to get my girl awake. She and I made it to Chick-fil-A by 7:50 am and were on our way to the field. We got the most fooked up directions to the field from the girl at Chick-fil-A. We ended up in Bauxite. I knew we went too far, but I deciphered from her directions the location of the field. She and I rolled into the ball fields like 2 superstars.
Miller is not one of the “best” players on her team. There are 11 girls on the team and Miller is per the roster number 11. Miller plays to have fun. By having fun I mean winning (she is my daughter). We got to the warm up area so we decided to practice our hitting. The coach of the team informed me that Miller was going to sit the bench for most of the game. I don’t think either one of us was fazed by it. I believe my exact words were, “Hey man, whatever it takes to win.” I was good with that and I know Miller was. So she went through her first game and our team won 11 to 10. It was a great game. Miller got her one at bat and played one inning in the field. The problem was Miller struck out during her at bat. We won so we didn’t have to come back till 4:30 pm because we were in the winner’s bracket.
She and I walked back to the truck to go home after the first game of the day. As we walked back to the car neither of us spoke. I knew something was off. I was not mad or sad. I didn’t know what to say to her. Finally I said, “What’s up with you?” She said, “What?” I said, ” How do you feel about the game?” She started to speak but I said, “Hey, Let’s just get in the truck.” We got into the truck to leave. So, as I started to back out of the parking lot spot and drive away we still didn’t talk. I said, ” Ok, so what’s up? What are you thinking and feeling?” She said, “The balls were way over my head and I couldn’t hit them. (pissed off)” I said, “You’re right, but you have to be able to hit every ball. That’s no excuse. What are you really mad about?” She told me, and I listened to her story. I said, “Baby, here is the reality. You are one of the best hitters that has ever lived. Do you believe me?” She said, “What?” I said, “You are one of the best hitters that has ever lived. It is a fact. All you have to do is trust me and God. I said you trust me don’t you? You trust God don’t you?” She said, “Yeeessss” I said, ” Miller, it doesn’t matter what any coach thinks. It doesn’t matter what people think. All that matters is God gives you gifts. Your only job is to use them. If you don’t use them that is your choice. That’s on you. You don’t have to worry about what coaches or people think. You are to use what God gives you as hard as you can use it. Miller, I was a great ball player. I could have played pro ball if I wanted to. I have played and beaten the best many times over. I am telling you. You are the best hitter on this team. Do I not coach the number one team in our league?” (I coach Miller’s regular league team.) She said, “Yeeessss.” I said, “No matter the choice I choose you first. You’re my All-Star because I have the numbers to back it up.” She asked, “How is that?” I said, “You have the best hitting average on our team. You have the least amount of strike-outs of any batter we’ve got. You have the second most runs scored. Those are just facts. You know why else your my first choice?” She asked, “Why?” I said, “Because, you know they are only going to let you hit one time a game, but yet you will do your best and have fun while doing it. You know what else?” She said, “What?” I said, “The cool thing about math and baseball/softball is the numbers will keep telling the truth, and so will your Daddy.”
We finished up the last of the drive back home to rest for a couple of hours. I explained more of the mechanics of hitting Charlie Lau style and life. She told me about the friends on the team she had. (Who was funny. Miller loves funny people.) We put 8 year old softball in perspective. Later that evening she went 2 for 2 with 1 RBI and 1 stolen base and we had ice cream on the way home from Mc Donald’s. That’s softball.
