Building a team from scratch is a large undertaking. Finding parents and players of like minds to come together with a common goal makes that undertaking difficult. Over the summer months we had Piper, Sloan’s cousin from California, filling out the roster. But, like all good things summer ended and she returned home for school.
The lost of Piper left the Battitude’s roster with only 9 athletes, with two of those athletes being pitchers. Normally the coaches don’t play pitchers in the field, but due to the shortage the decision was made to make an exception.
All is good – you would think…..
In softball Good is never Good….Red, our 1st base, had an unexpected family emergency that kept her from participating in the tournament. Now we have a problem. Not enough girls to play and the Battitude were locked into a scheduled tournament on the 14th of August.
Muskogee Oklahoma to the rescue!!!!
Battitude’s Team administrator (admin) is part of a Facebook group call Black Girls Play Softball (BGPS) within this group he started communicating (thru instant message (IM)) with another member that went by Bruce Lee Roy (the coolest nickname ever). During their IMs Bruce stated he would love to do a meetup.
As part of a meetup the team admin, in June, put together a softball clinic lead my Jessica Steward, @jessgstewart3, but a freak storm forced a cancelation of the event the morning of. Larry had traveled from Muskogee Oklahoma to Allen Texas with his young ladies to participate and the event.
Due to the storm and cancelation Larry and Battitude’s team admin did not meet.
Here comes the 14th of August.
The team manager contacted Larry to see if his girls would be interested in guest playing with the Battitude. Larry volunteered to drive down from Muskogee Oklahoma – bringing four girls to play.
He brought four amazing young ladies!!! His daughters Alexandria and Lariah along with his nieces Terrah and Tailah.
In the beginning Coach Quincy didn’t know how he would rotate in all the ladies. Coach did not want to disappoint any of the young ladies by not playing them, but an unexpected injury to Jayla, our backup 1st base, relieved Quincy of that decision as there were quickly three openings in the field.
Most teams guest players don’t fit in, but these girls made an immediate bond and as the tournament progressed they become an integral part of the team. The tournament didn’t turn out the way we all planned but the girls were able to meet new friends in the softball world and the young ladies from Muskogee had a lasting effect on our team and the girls.
The toughness and confidence the ladies of Muskogee brought to the team was a must needed boost.
Thank you, Larry, for taking on the burden of driving your young ladies over two and a half hours to assist the Battitude.
Thank you, Alexandria, Lariah, Terrah, and Tailah for Showing UP and Showing Out.