Boy, being Mike Quade isn’t easy. I recently “volunteered” to coach my daughter’s third/fourth grade softball team, the Huskies. I say “volunteered” because I wanted to do it but wasn’t sure I would have the time to devote to it. When the second e-mail from the association came out saying they didn’t have a coach for the team I stepped up.
You would think the biggest challenge would be able to explain the Infield Fly Rule, or where the cutoff man should be on a hit to the outfield. Not for yours truly. My biggest challenge was learning and (more importantly) remembering 14 names. It didn’t get any easier by having two Alexandras and two Kirstens (one pronounced Keer-sten, the other Kur-sten and believe me the teammates notice when the wrong Kirsten is pronounced).
On our first day of practice I introduced myself, explained how our practices would run and then I asked if there were any questions. “Will you have a steal sign?” Man this is an advanced group.
Just before the third game of the year I had just finished my pre-game prep talk. A hand shot up in the air. “Yes?” “Can we slide into home?” Mind you in our first two games combined we had scored all of one run.
We have one slugger on the team who can reach the outfield grass on a fly. I have never heard so much noise as the two times she’s cranked the ball to the outfield and ended up with doubles.
Every game and each practice we talk about the fundamentals. Pay attention. Swing at pitches you can reach; not over your head or one’s that bounce three feet before the plate. Watch the batter when you’re in the field in case the ball gets hit to you. Quade has to deal with high priced stars and agents. I have dance steps in the outfield and hair blowing in faces “because my visor makes me hot.”
But even with that minor frustration, nothing can compare to the look on a child’s face when they have stared down the pitcher, hit a shot up the middle and legged it out for a basehit. The sheer joy on their face says everyone is having a great time.
Quade has his staff of Riggins, DeJesus and Dernier. I wouldn’t be anywhere without the parents of my team as well as my stellar staff of my oldest daughter Katelyn and a dad (Steve) of one of the players. Steve has the same mannerisms, voice quality and, if he shaved his goatee, facial features of The Professor. That could be why I’m enjoying the season so much. It brings back memories when Dave and I were leading “Martha and the Vandellas” to glory.
Weather, like with any outdoor sport, plays a factor. We have gone, in the space of four days, from 93 degrees with high humidity to 57 degrees and gusting winds. We also have had three rainouts. Mother Nature is not a friend to the Huskies.
As with any sport there will be altercations. Turns out the adults are the biggest problem. In one game I engaged in a shouting match with the other team’s coaches. After the game our girls said “That team is awesome! They cheered for us!” Didn’t matter to our girls that the other coach had his team stealing second and third in the sixth inning (we only play six innings, assuming it’s not dark yet) while leading 14-1. Every once in a while the kids see the bigger picture.
We’re still looking for win number one. You ever hear how a ballplayer says they feel like they went 3 for 4 because they hit the ball hard, yet they ended up going 0 for 4? That was us last night. It felt like a win. We cranked out eleven hits, struck out a season low ten times and had the tying runs on base in the last inning before losing 6-4.
Half way through the season and it’s already been a great year.
No comments:
Post a Comment