On Saturday, we bid a final farewell to DGS with the annual wrap up "gala." Normally, this would have been done at the Yacht Club with a formal party. However, that was not possible this year. So we were all able to enjoy a Softball Party at Tiggies, which was fun.
We got a chance to send Bri on a Farewell. She got flowers as a retiring 8th grader and a photo with the entire group, which was AWESOME! And we got some nice pictures.
Thank you DGS for a wonderful career.
Summer began with a bang - almost literally yesterday - as Bri participated in an All Star Game for the first time ever. It was a great game to watch and the perfect cap to a nine year career in the DGS league.
First, we arrived early and were there to enjoy the end of the Championship game that occurred before that. It was a hard fought game - from what we could tell - but in the end the Super Team of the league won. They were really good.
Then, it was time for the game. They did announce the teams (Bri's name was third) and even played the national anthem (which sparked Facebook controversy because a neighborhood noticed that some people were not standing for it, or seemed confused, but after several people, including us chimed in, we realized she was looking at the little kid's game on the lower field that had no clue what was going on). Bri checked in with her current coach and some old coaches, including coach Jill, which was a neat way for her to say farewell to her time in the league. Then, it was time for the game. Her team was the visiting team and wore the white shirts (instead of the home blue team). They picked numbers for the batting order - she was 9th, so it two innings for her to get up to plate. Both of her at-bats were strong ground outs to third, who threw to first.
In the field, she started off in right, where she did not see a ball come to her (except for a foul that was on the other side of the fence). Then, she played third (always an adventure, because she had not played in a while). She was in left later, and handled a ball that got through the infield. Bri then played catcher. She made some solid catches on pitches, but also took a ball (or bat) off the hand. It is always tough to see coaches and an umpire crowd around your kiddo, but she stuck in there.
After six innings, the game was over. Her team lost, but it was an amazing end to a fabulous nine year career as a member of Danvers Girls Softball.
Today, we had a first in our house. It began when I received an email from Bri's softball coach. She wanted to check in with her about tomorrow's game - which is potentially her last regular reason game as a member of the DGS (unless the add the high school league back).
As any true 8th grader would feel, Bri was a little worried, but he reassured us in an email that it was related to her last game. And it turns out, when she called him, he told her that as part of their last game, she and another 8th grader on the team would be in charge of putting together the lineup. It is sort of like a right of passage.
But then, he congratulated her and said she also made the All Star Team. She was shocked - and excited. It is the first time anyone in our family made an All Star Team!
Phew! What a day. It is hard to believe all that we crammed into one super hot June Day.
First, we began to day by helping out with an Eagle Project for troop at 9:30. Brandon P was making a Gaga Pit for the local YMCA as part of his wrap up for Eagle in our troop. It was very hot, but we were able to make an amazing pit for the YMCA.
Right after that, we took off and went home so we could get to Bri to pictures for softball on time. She had pictures taken and then did a practice right before a double header against the best team in the league. It was brutally hot - and the games we just as brutal - Bris team got swept - but they tried their best on such a hot day. Bri had three hits in the games, caught a pop up, and stopped several balls as a catcher on the field.
Toward the end of her double header, we had to take to Kiff to his flag football game. That was even more lopsided than Bri's games, as his team got smoked 56 - 0 (or so). Kiff ran a few routes, got some good flags, and tried his best, too.
By 5:00 our day - and ourselves - were done! Exhausted, we ordered some Chinese food and now are getting ready to let Bri and Kiff play video games, while Emmie and I go to bed early for the night.
What a day!
Last weekend Bri had a monster game playing softball...for her, it was the best game she has played by far ever.
She was catcher for a good chunk of the game. In that time...
1. She got two hits.
2. She scored a run.
3. She caught a pop up behind the plate.
4. On a passed ball, she threw someone out trying to steal home.
5. She threw someone out at third base.
Overall, quite a game fro Bri.
This year, Bri is playing in her 7th season of softball. While COVID took softball out of Bri, this year has proven that you can't take Bri totally out of softball. Now, while she will not admit she likes the sport, she has said she might be willing to play in the future.
The reason - besides some great coaches over the years, she has fallen in love with being a catcher.
And tonight showed that her love for catching is paying off. After having her best softball game ever two games ago (she missed the last one for a recital), she played in her new best softball game earlier tonight for the Dukes.
First, she went 2-3 including a key hit against a tough pitcher. She also almost had a 3rd hit earlier in the night, but it went foul. Then, she swiped two bases as well. Overall, a pretty great night for her at the plate.
But it was behind the plate that Bri really stood out. She played four innings behind their (3rd - 7th in extra innings). She was fairly strong, catching some fast pitchers while holding her own preventing passed balls. She also made three attempts to throw a runner out on the base paths. One was very close!
However, she had three super strong plays that really stood out. First, after barely missing a ball popped up behind plate, she caught one later in the game which eventually prevented a run from scoring. Also, after letting a ball get passed her, she pounced on it and threw to the pitcher covering the plate, getting a girl trying to come home from 3rd out. And, with bases loaded, a girl swung and had the ball go straight down in front of the plate. Bri was heady, grabbed the ball, and tagged the plate before the girl could score.
Any one of those plays would have been impressive. But, those three helped earn her the game ball tonight.
