by artomatic » Mon Jun 06, 2016 8:45 am
Spring 2001, my 2 daughters were 10 and 5 years old:
A buddy who I played slowpitch with at the time had a couple of daughters that played fastpitch, and he was on the board of the local girls fast pitch rec league.
He kept telling me to sign my 10 year old up for spring ball, and on the last day of sign ups, he called me to remind me.
My wife had just completed 6 months of chemotherapy and radiation for Hodgkin Disease, and we were trying to get back in the flow of things, so we thought it would be good to get everyone active.
As my 10 year old and I we were getting in the car to drive down to the park to sign her up, my 5 year old came running out to the car with tears in her eyes, yelling "Hey what about me?"
I told her I thought she was too young, but we could ask when we got there. So she got in with us, we signed both girls up, and I was talked into helping with the youngest's t-ball team.
My oldest is now 25, played through high school, but it was never a big passion for her.
She has a great job as a legal assistant.
My youngest is 21, is still playing in college, and just finished her junior year.
I coached my youngest through 1st year 16's, then retired to the outfield grass in a lawn chair.
The game has given us lifelong memories and friendships, we've seen places we never would have seen otherwise, and for our youngest, she is on track to graduate with a degree next year at a wonderful university, because of the opportunity that softball gave her.
Deserve's got nothin' to do with it.