A Little Softball, A Lot of Class

I was back in the coaches box last night.  It's a comfortable place.  It's also a place that confirmed some of my faith in people.

My daughter, Heather, is taking a foray into travel softball.  The St. Joseph County Surge is a brand new program, and the girls have never played travel ball.  They are still getting to know each other, communication is still an issue.  These girls have potential, but they are a long way from being a great ball club.

The Indiana Thunder are a strong, established travel softball program.  They have the luxury of accepting the best players, the players that fill their needs to make a great ball club.  They play with a confidence and abandon we can only hope to achieve.

Last night, the two teams met on the field.  It went as would be expected: Thunder winning easily.  In four innings of play, the Surge recorded seven of a possible twelve outs, but three of them were in one inning.  We did bunt a ball into fair territory, and scored a run, thanks to a hit batter with the bases loaded.

The Thunder may have looked down their noses, but sure didn't show it.  I heard nothing but positive from their dugout.  Post game line-up was smiles all around.  Both teams lined up together to take a picture commemorating the first game in Surge history, Thunder on one side, Surge on the other.

Then my faith was restored.  Thunder players started mixing with Surge players.  Heather ended up next to a pair of twins who go to the same church we attend.  Coaches mixed in the back row.  The picture is the cover picture of the Surge Facebook page.

A lot of things could have been said or done and weren't.  We were respectful both ways.  Considering some of the things I have seen (see my previous post about Best/Worst moments), my faith is restored.  Hope the next game is the same way.