Somebody help me find a post PLEASE!!!

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About a year ago I read a post by a Dad who dropped his DD off at college. If I recall the story, the girl wanted to play catch & pitch just one more time with Dad before she left.
After coming home from dropping the daughter off at college, he saw it there in his garage....sitting there alone...probably never to be used again.........the bucket. He knew, and he realized that she had known too....that the moment they just shared was probably the last time he would sit on that bucket catching for her ever again.

As my own children age, I think of this story every time I go catch for my daughter...or when she wants to just play pepper.

If any of you know where this post is...please re-post it. Or copy & paste it in a PM for me and I will post it.
I would be very indebted.

Chris Zaker
Ohio Glory '01

 

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http://www.thesoftballzone.com/vb3/general-softball/5672-longest-drive.html

 

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Geez Chris, my eyes are getting a little moist just reading your description of the lost post. I'm sure if I read the actual story, I'd be crying like a baby. (Thereby ruining my reputation)

 

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My daughter is only 12 and your post is making me teary!
I would be a complete mess had I not already told my daughter a million times that I am coming with her to college ; )

 

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thanks a lot Chris, just ruined my make-up for the day.

 

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I'm going to go against the sentiment here to just add a little variety to nostalgia.

If you play EVERYDAY like it's your last day, you won't be so sad when it finally is.

 

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CZ,
I also remember that Post as if it were yesterday! very heart felt and emotional...
As NEXT week I will be doing it for the first time with my son...the time goes fast so enjoy it now..
DD is in 8th grade and I get to spend plenty of time on that BUCKET... But her turn will get here faster than I will Know..

 

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Scooter ... unfortunately, I have to say (and I know my DD would as well) that the opposite is true ...

 

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I've instructed kids for years that are in the 10u to 12u range to stay this size and age forever. Not one has ever listened to me and to this day I still get emotional when I know they probably will be coming to work with me for the last winter. Fortunately God found a way to keep coaches spirits up. I've recently discovered these fine young ladies give birth to a new generation of players just as hungry to learn and excited to play as their mothers years before. I've decided I can deal with things now!!!

 

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Scooter. In my opinion not true at all. My daughters last travel ball game was a couple of weeks ago and she cried all the way home. She has never giving less than 100% ever on the field. Playing through injuries and even strep throat in her career. When you do something you love and it ends it's hard. She's now looking forward to college ball but will sure miss travel in the summers.

 

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Gosh gang...I'm sorry to stir up all of these emotions. However....as a coach and a parent we know these days are ahead of us. My own DD, a very tough kid, cried after our last tourney game last year even knowing that tryouts were only two weeks away. I actually loved it. I loved that she cares that much for her teammates. Makes the long hours, the scheduling, the painstaking tryuout process, all of the headaches that come with this well paid job all worthwhile.
We are doing a lot of good, parents!!!!

 

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Not the post you're looking for, but it has some similar sentiments and is timely for some parents...

The Cost of Travel Ball?

It was beautiful Sunday morning in late August, perfect for a road trip to Austin, the land of the Horns of the Long ones. The car was loaded to the fullest?gassed up, tires checked, ready to roll. You see, today was the day we would deliver DD #1 to her choice of college.

The ride down was uneventful, making small talk about college plans, meeting new people, the do?s and the don?ts of college life?all about sex, drugs and rock n roll?and all that would be thrust upon her on day one. Upon arrival, the goal was to get in, unload, and get out?hugs and kisses, and ?we?ll see you soon?. The ride home was just as eventful albeit a little quieter.

That night getting ready for bed it hits you. A part of your family for the last 18 years isn?t with you anymore. Tossing and turning the first night?can?t sleep. Finally, I get up about 2:00am and go upstairs to the pig sty that was once my first daughter?s bedroom. It?s empty?and so am I. Standing at the door way? the tears start to fall. On the bookshelf are all the trophies from 4 years of age to present?including the one from 6U t-ball, where she came off the field, out of the dugout to give her mom and dad a hug following her first home run (really a hit and three errors ? but we kept that to ourselves). Then there?s the helmet ? airbrushed with her name on it from the Fort Collins, Colorado USSSA World Series. A letter jacket with all the patches is in the closet. Many pictures, stuff on the wall, memories??need I say more? Many tears?sitting in that room alone?.very alone.

3:30am - still up looking through the ?junk? in DD #1?s room thinking about and judging my performance as a father?after all, I did plenty of that (judging her) as she was growing up and looking back wishing I had held my tongue more and found a way to talk about the positives and less about the negatives. Reminds of the many softball games where DD would do something well on the field and then scan the bleachers for me, seeking approval and that nod from me, that yes? that was indeed, a job well done. Then there were other times when, after a mistake on the field, she wouldn?t dare look into the stands ? because she knew what was waiting?a dirty look from dad. At 4:00am that first night, I only wished I could take those back... that, and all the long, meaningless lectures on the ride home about what it would take to get to the ?next level?.

5:00am ? got to get ready for work in 2 hours, so decide to go back to bed?spending the next two hours waiting with anticipation so I can call her before her first day of classes and tell her how much I love her and miss her. More tears?.

A year and half later, DD #1 says there are no regrets. Adjusting well to college life, making good grades, good friends and staying out of trouble?all is well. Also happy to report that dad is doing much better too!

When you ask the question? what is the cost of travel ball? The answer is?

...priceless.

The Cost of Travel Ball

 

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Damnit, Lady_Knights.......the tears are back. (I guess I wasn't really certain I wanted to read it again, but now I have)
Thank you for finding that post.
CZ

 

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Is this the one you were talking about....

roudyone
Junior Member


Join Date
Dec 2008
Posts
20
There was no "easy" button for this one...
Just got back home today from dropping my daughter (Kellie) off to college. My wife and I took her there friday to move in and stayed some of saturday to help with her room and supplies.
This didn't hit me when she played her last game in high school or her last game in travel ball this summer, but after we said our goodbye's and hugs today...everything came full circle.
The drive back home was reflecting on when she started playing travel at 8u with the 10u Hilliard Cats and all the other teams Ohio Classics, Nightmare, laser White. There are a lot of memories with each team that she played with and her high school teams at Hilliard Darby and Hilliard Bradley.
But when it really hit me was when we got home and I saw the bucket of balls in the garage. This bucket and balls were the ones that she and I would go to the school and I would hit her grounders, fly balls, and would pitch to her. This really hit me hard!!!
I would like to say cherish every moment with your child because it will only come once in a lifetime.


Brian Roudabush

 

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this is great

 

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Sweet16 ... you think it's bad now, wait till it's her last game of college ball ... ugh, sorry ... I need a kleenex ...

 

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My DD is going into her third year of 14U and is going to be a freshman. I have coached her since t-ball, including her middle school team, and have loved every minute of it. This week we made a difficult decision to not have our own team this year, but to join a different organization and team. When I took her to the private tryout, we talked about it all the way there, along with her mom. Once we got to the field, she warmed up with a catcher that joined us. Once the new coach arrived, I spoke with him briefly and then he walked toward the field she was warming up on. As I looked back and saw him approach her and start talking to her, my eyes began to tear up. I thought "this is it. I'm done coaching her."

After the tryout in which the coach offered her a spot, we discussed a bit on the way home. Once we got home, we talked about it more and I told her it was her decsion. After a few minutes of quiet, I asked her again what she wanted to do. When she didn't answer I looked at her and she had tears rolling down her cheeks. I asked her what was wrong and she said "but you won't be my coach anymore, dad." I lost it! Tears rolled down my face and then her mom let loose too.

I was prepared for this to happen during the high school season but I honestly thought I would coach her through 18U travel. I know she will continue to work hard for her new coach and I will always be proud to call her my duaghter. But, I will always remember the days of coaching my DD as some of the best times in her childhood for me. Even when we were losing and playing poorly. Even if she was struggling pitching or she made a couple of fielding errors. We had our moments, no doubt, when I wasn't happy with something she did or she wasn't happy with something I did. But now I know for sure, she loved it as much as I did.

I'm going to enjoy the next 4-5 years, and maybe more, of sitting in my lawn chair and watching her grow as a ball player and as a young woman. But I will definitely miss coaching my DD.

Daddy loves you 27.

And......my cheeks are whet again.


By the way...where can I buy a lawn chair?

 

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ugh you guys are killing me today!

 

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Dad of 27, I am in the same boat this year (though I coached her at lower levels- CYO and travel). It was pretty pathetic when at the tryout one of the coaches told my DD to go get me and she pulled me by the hand from the bleachers on to the field and the coaches told us she made the team. I started crying. They probably thought I was a nut. Later that night she was kidding around with me saying how crazy and emotional I am.

I thought, just wait till you have kids!!

 

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You Guys are KILLING me. I have got to get curtains on my office windows...