What is your favorite moment?

[CARDS]

Reflecting back over the years there is way too many moments / memories of my youngest DD and all her sports to pick one.

Hoverer; in Fastpitch two of the classics I remember was with our parents...

At 12U one of my parents was trying to jump a fence at Sevierville park in Tenn. tournament when the bucket he was standing on kicked out and he was left hanging by his tightly wihities in the OF warm up fence area needing bystanders to free him.

The other was a parent that had a little too much happy fluid when we were at 18U at the Wild Horse in Nashville MCH. Kendra was there filming and as the ladies was getting autographs this parent was strolling across the dance floor doing the 50 year old white drunk dude dance, too bad for him it ended up on film with several parents posting it...

 

[HITTER23]

Reflecting back over the years there is way too many moments / memories of my youngest DD and all her sports to pick one.

Hoverer; in Fastpitch two of the classics I remember was with our parents...

At 12U one of my parents was trying to jump a fence at Sevierville park in Tenn. tournament when the bucket he was standing on kicked out and he was left hanging by his tightly wihities in the OF warm up fence area needing bystanders to free him.

The other was a parent that had a little too much happy fluid when we were at 18U at the Wild Horse in Nashville MCH. Kendra was there filming and as the ladies was getting autographs this parent was strolling across the dance floor doing the 50 year old white drunk dude dance, too bad for him it ended up on film with several parents posting it...

Absolutely classic.

 

[Lenski65]

There are so many it's hard to choose just one, but I hope I'm remembering this particular one correctly. DD's freshman year of HS. We're down 3-1 and we need to win this game (and the next game) to win the conference championship. Bottom of the 6th, bases loaded, 2 outs, and dd's up to bat. She rips a shot deep into left-center field for a bases-clearing double. What was truly awesome to see was the HC's reaction. We hold them in the 7th for the 4-3 win, and win the next game to become conference champions.

 

[wannaplaysb]

My fav moment is when she was 6 and said she thinks she wants to pitch. Then at 12 she pitched well enough and depended on her team to make plays and brought home a Asa eastern nationals trophy in my truck! And said she is not
done yet...

 

[initfor51]

Oh my what a great question. I am an old timer. DD is done with travel and now I'm a non parent coach. So my greatest memory as a parent was when my DD was 10u. She was so little and fast so all she ever did for two years was bunt for singles. She was getting tired of all the congrats given to the home run hitters so she asked us for lessons in power slapping. Her first power slap went all the way to the fence. The best part was evey team always knew to play up on Shelby. That day she became a triple threat at the plate but more importantly was looked at as a small girl with a stick. I received a call from her two days ago and she accepted a position at a high school to be the JV coach. Her continuing love of this sport is my proudest moment as a parent.

As a coach my greatest memory was last fall when we had a tie game, no outs, and a runner on third. I was still getting to know most of these girls and what they can do (at 14u anything can happen). I called time and reminded the hitter what had to happen and that all we needed to do was score the runner. I said let's try a squeeze and see what happens. We had no outs. She looked puzzled and a little nervous and she said she should probably swing away. I giggled and said ok. The first pitch she swung so hard that she spun around. I couldn't stop laughing. I reminded her to calm down and get a single. The look I got was priceless. She turned back and swung again ripping it to the fence. We won and I had the best time relaxing and getting to know them during that weekend. What I take from that is to listen to my players to see what they think. I love learning new things.

 

[initfor51]

Oh I almost forgot. Another great memory was making the cool kids list.

 

[ApogeeDemon]

Oh I almost forgot. Another great memory was making the cool kids list.

membership has its privileges. I can show you how to make a hitting devices out of old tires and car parts. Also, I can teach you hip thrusts. You are going to be a star! The next true Elvis!

 

[HITTER23]

Is every moment from a championship of some kind?

After thinking about it, its hard to get everyone to agree where to go but i like the moments where everyone on the team goes to some restaurant, 12 girls at one table, parents at the other. Have had some of the best times like that, sitting back and relaxing and just being yourself.

 

[daboss]

Over the years I have been fortunate enough to be a part of some wonderful moments in our game. I've coached champions as well as losers. I've watched team efforts fall just a little short while witnessing some of the greatest moments in the game. I don't ever remember taking credit for any of them as I have lived with the motto "It's all about the kids." I think some of my fondest memories aren't about the success stories that are so easy to remember but of the unsuccessful attempts and tragic ends to teams or individuals that I have the utmost respect for. Those times when it simply wasn't in the cards to be yet they tried so hard for the brass ring.

The fondest memory of all is of a past travel player and pitching student of mine. This young lady started with me at 11 years old to tackle one of the most difficult positions on the field---pitcher. The same winter she began lessons she had trouble getting to me on time as her mother was diagnosed with cancer. Not long after her father's construction business fell on hard times and he began working any spare hours as a handyman to keep the family afloat after admitting he didn't have any family insurance. The mother had cancelled their policy after her business fell apart and didn't tell him. I drove to the house and would pick her up for her lesson; I coached her travel ball team for 3 years of 14u, and then worked every winter with her pitching.

As the #1 pitcher for her high school team she helped the squad to a district semifinal finish her sophomore year. She came to me after a splendid extra-inning affair and cried so hard my shoulder was wet from the tears and sweat. I felt so bad for this kid that didn't know how to quit. Her junior year she pitched the first game of the season, a no hitter for the win, only to be involved in a car accident the following morning and had her right ankle broken multiple places. She missed her entire junior year while having 3 corrective surgeries. Thru rehab and hard work we got her back in shape for her senior year where she led her team to a regional final game. She reported to a D3 college that fall with some fine fall ball numbers before re-injuring her ankle during winter conditioning. Shortly after the doctors told her there was nothing left they could do and her softball career would need to come to an end. Disappointed and heart broke she soon after dealt with her mother passing away. All this tragedy yet her spirit remained on track. She moved home, transferred her credits and currently is finishing her schooling at Wright St. for a degree in nursing. She's absolutely beautiful inside and out and recently shared with me she's met Mr. Right and is planning a wedding.

While others have a “moment” to remember I have hung on to this one as the best of the best. I'm so proud of this young lady. She wasn't the easiest pitching student I ever worked with but stands as a testament as to why I keep going. I’m proud to know her as well as so many others that will become positive members of society.

 

[LakeErieHillbilly]

Going a different and simple route on this one.

I remember years ago when both girls where playing travelball for the NWO Lady Irish. Our youngest was only 7 years old and very small while the oldest was on the 13u. After coming home from an early spring tournament down in the Dayton area, my oldest spent an hour after we got home from the long drive on hitting lessons with her while I had to cut the grass. Just seeing them both in their uniforms working together was very special to me. Very next tournament (2nd of the young season) in a tournament up in Tecumseh Michigan she got her first ever hit in tournament ball up there. The big smile on her face was priceless!
I remember how big the helmet was on her little body she looked like a bobblehead running the bases that year.

 

[SoCal_Dad]

I have so many of them its tough to pick out just one. So I will toss them out as they come to me. Probably one of the most memorable sights the one that has stayed with me was the day I watched Hitter23 attack a Chinese buffet, It was like Food network meets demolition derby.... we were asked to leave..... More to follow as they come to me.

Was it this one?

 

[jasbo77]

This being my ninth year coaching travel softball I have many moments I could list as my favorite it's so hard to pick come from behind winds with two outs in last inning a few times incredible plays girls have made etc... and I have seen many but let me reflect on my proudest moment of my youngest daughter two outs runners on base tying run art second. She usually the kind of kid you want up at that moment she gets up fouls off two long strikes on the third one she whiffed three bat up in air snatched it with one hand in a bit of frustration then smiled the whole way in the dugout she was 10u at the time and most kids would of emotionally broke down over that... It was at that point in time I knew she had the make up to be great player because the way she handled her failure... To often in this game we focus on the great plays which believe me she had had plenty but the kids I have seen over the years that truly succeed are the one that know how to handle failure so as a coach and especially as a dad that was inspiring moment to me seeing her totally buy in to all the talks and lessons at such young age

 

[FastBat]

Last fall my dd was 9, she had an opportunity to come in, and pitch the remainder of a game. Her team was ahead by one run, she was pitching to the #3 or 4 batter in the order, with 2 outs; tying run on third, winning run on second. Amazingly, she struck the batter out, and her team won the game! The funny part is, she was so focused, she was ready to get a forth out! As I walked onto the field, she had a puzzled look on her face and I said, "we won". It was just so sweet, I couldn't be mad that she didn't know how many outs she had!

 

[Lenski65]

Is every moment from a championship of some kind?

After thinking about it, its hard to get everyone to agree where to go but i like the moments where everyone on the team goes to some restaurant, 12 girls at one table, parents at the other. Have had some of the best times like that, sitting back and relaxing and just being yourself.

Not every moment is from a championship of some kind........

We were in a PGF tournament last summer. Our team was in a hitting slump the entire tourney, so a few parents got together and bought bags of candy to try to bribe the girls into hitting. Somehow it morphed into candy PLUS making the coach eat carrots, a vegetable he loathed. The bribes worked. We had to have over 20 hits that game. The girls were having the best time they had all summer, by far. That night we went to a steakhouse as a team. All the girls sat together with the coach. I didn't see it but somehow the girls convinced the coach to sit on a saddle, carrots in both hands, and get his picture taken. Later that night the parents and coach were outside the motel enjoying some adult beverages and the coach's alter-ego was created: Exotic pole dancer Summer Shandy.

The coach? Cool kid Hitter23.

 

[BulldawgsDirector]

For my DD it was an 8 inning 1-0 win in a game where she pitched 17 k's and hit a home run in an all star 10U semi final game when she was 9. It was indeed the moment we decided she was ready to step up to another level.

Last year our 18U squad rallies down 7-0 in the final at bat for a walk off win in the winners bracket final. It was tremendous. The last 3 runs were with 2 outs.

 

[snoman76]

In my short 3 years in travel my favorite moment was this past fall. We were playing at the pumpkin smash and my DD was at the plate. It was a tight game and she was in a bunting situation but I had her hit away. She ended up with a triple driving in a run. As nice as that was that isn't the moment. A parent on our team takes pictures at all our games and he got one of me giving her an enthusiastic high five after she reached 3rd. She posted this picture on her Instagram with the comment "my father gave me the greatest gift ever, he believed in me"

 

[tjsmize3]

Not every moment is from a championship of some kind........

We were in a PGF tournament last summer. Our team was in a hitting slump the entire tourney, so a few parents got together and bought bags of candy to try to bribe the girls into hitting. Somehow it morphed into candy PLUS making the coach eat carrots, a vegetable he loathed. The bribes worked. We had to have over 20 hits that game. The girls were having the best time they had all summer, by far. That night we went to a steakhouse as a team. All the girls sat together with the coach. I didn't see it but somehow the girls convinced the coach to sit on a saddle, carrots in both hands, and get his picture taken. Later that night the parents and coach were outside the motel enjoying some adult beverages and the coach's alter-ego was created: Exotic pole dancer Summer Shandy.

The coach? Cool kid Hitter23.

That's awesome Lenski! I think you should post a picture of the "cool kid" on the saddle.

 

[Strohbro]

Not every moment is from a championship of some kind........

We were in a PGF tournament last summer. Our team was in a hitting slump the entire tourney, so a few parents got together and bought bags of candy to try to bribe the girls into hitting. Somehow it morphed into candy PLUS making the coach eat carrots, a vegetable he loathed. The bribes worked. We had to have over 20 hits that game. The girls were having the best time they had all summer, by far. That night we went to a steakhouse as a team. All the girls sat together with the coach. I didn't see it but somehow the girls convinced the coach to sit on a saddle, carrots in both hands, and get his picture taken. Later that night the parents and coach were outside the motel enjoying some adult beverages and the coach's alter-ego was created: Exotic pole dancer Summer Shandy.

The coach? Cool kid Hitter23.

I'm sure he chased those carrots with a hot dog

 

[Lenski65]

That's awesome Lenski! I think you should post a picture of the "cool kid" on the saddle.

Chris, who took the picture?

 

[Lenski65]

I'm sure he chased those carrots with a hot dog

Yeah, he probably had a pack of hotdogs in his motel fridge. It wouldn't surprise me if he wolfed down a few to get that carrot taste out of his mouth.