State softball 2017

As we hang up the softball cleats (sort of) for a few weeks before fall ball starts, let's take a peak at this weekend's amazing state experience. Both girls entered their tournaments with their heads held high, ready to play hard. Unfortunately, they played 40 minutes apart from each other, which meant a lot of back and forth or missed games as we tried our darndest to make it to as many of the games as possible. 

Lincoln spent his 12 hours on Saturday and another 6 hours on Sunday playing catch with me, drinking Gatorade, making new friends and playing with his cars.
Bless his heart for hanging in there with me (Ryan helps coach Sidney so it's just me and my buddy; thankfully toss in a little Grandma Jan for help!). Sunday as I packed up after Sidney's last game to finally head home for good, he joyfully asked "are we go back to Regan's ball game?"...seemingly ready for another round! 

Regan's team worked hard all day on Saturday, winning game after game. She played catcher and third for most of the games; they were short on players but thankfully we didn't have any injuries. 

I adore how these girls bond together each season. We happen to play for an association who places girls on teams not by school, but rather by another method. Which means, we get to make a lot of new friends each year. For example, Regan doesn't go to school with any of these girls in this photo but you wouldn't know they just met each other a few months ago! 

After a couple of losses on Sunday, they walked away with 3rd place! Regan made me immensely proud when she excitedly told me just how proud she was of her team. This sport is so much a team effort and she gets that. Her and another girl were able to get an opposing girl out during a 'hot-box' between home and third base; the excitement in the face of the entire team was picture worthy! They were so proud! 

I love how hard they play and how much they cheer each other on!

Following Regan's 3rd place, we raced down to watch Sidney also play for the third place win. 8U is run a bit differently so the winner of Sidney's game would earn 3rd place. We drove as fast as we could through the terribly-timed Minneapolis construction and made it just as the game began. Sidney had an incredible  tournament and I was so happy to be able to catch a few glimpses each day. That girl ripped more doubles than I can count! Those batting cages sure paid off (even though she will disagree after taking a wild batting cage pitch to the thigh recently). 

Her tiny 8U team stood tall and proud after pulling in 3rd place! These girls are a very young team and many girls are still learning the fundamentals of the game. Only a few are actually old enough to be moving up to 10U in the fall (Sidney being one of them). 

Sidney and her idol-Lexi (an older sister of a teammate); she plays for the 12A team who are super fun to watch because they win almost every game! 

And Sidney adores her like none other. 

Grandma Jan couldn't get enough ball on Saturday, and although certainly didn't plan on coming to all the games Sunday, couldn't pull herself away and found herself right back at all of the fields again. 

(I know she loves it just as much as I do; we had one of Regan's game that went into International Rules and was so intense we couldn't even sit down!).

Sidney and Coach Daddy, errr, I mean Coach Ryan :) He put on his patience hat 4 days/week with this team as he helped them all season long. 

These two are my most favorite ball players to watch. I love that they have so much fun on and off the field!

---and giggled like mad as I tried to take a decent picture of them---

Here's to another super fun softball season!