Al's 8th grade recognition was last night at her middle school. She was so excited! She thought it was going to be so fun and she would get recognized, and all eyes would be on her, and probably a ray of sunshine would burst through the ceiling and just radiate around her. She was so disappointed! We were herded onto the gym floor with all the other 8th grade athletes and their names and activities were read through a very staticy, gym distorted sound system. Because it was in alphabetic order, we were the first ones. Al soon became bored and about halfway through the line of 8th graders, she said, "This isn't as fun as I thought it would be. Can I leave?" She wanted to leave halfway through it - just walk off the gym floor and leave her daddy and I standing there alone.
Since volleyball season doesn't start for a few more weeks we only have softball pictures so far. And volleyball pictures are sooooo hard to get. It's hard to get good pictures in a gym.
Alex had a rough start to the season this year. In a scrimmage game before the season started, she pulled her quadriceps muscle. She had to play one game with it pulled, limping on and off the mound, and not being able to run. We/she went to physical therapy the next day and before school every morning that week for electrostimulation and stretching/strengthening exercises. It took a few games to get back to normal but once it was better she was on a roll.
They ended up winning the end of the season tournament, playing the same very strong team three times and winning two of those three times.
What an honor it was for her to get to play with this team. They played the season like it's supposed to be played. They improved every time they went on the field with their best games being in the tournament. They won the final tournament game 2-1 and had to play every batter like it was the game winning batter. I have never been more proud of a group of girls who individually did their best, which made their team the best. They never took for granted that they were going to win any game. They knew to win they would have to play hard - they truly earned every win they got.
Alex got the game ball, which is on the shelf in her room. She has many trophies and medals from softball but that game ball means a lot to her - she knows it represents a lot of hard work and one of her better games on the mound.
What do you do after winning the championship?
The worm! On home plate.
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