The best game of the season

I’m a sucker for a happy ending. I especially like to watch movies that provide a satisfactory feeling when the story is finished, which I usually find in a sports movie. It’s fulfilling to follow the struggles of a team or an individual in the climb toward their athletic success. Movies like Remember the Titans, Miracle, or Rudy provide closure when the protagonist reaches the pinnacle, even if you already know the outcome. I always get emotional when I see a goal reached through hard work and strong effort. Even a story like Rocky can be gripping and inspirational even though our hero failed to reach the goal. Sometimes the effort is worth the effort.

Stories like these are real. I have followed the struggles of my daughter to find her hitting stroke throughout her softball season. (So have you if you have followed along as I updated the schedule post with stats). Rachel loves to be a part of her team, enjoys playing the game, and she has tried very hard to contribute. She has given a good effort every game the entire season, and her on-base percentage is very high. Of course, the only way she has reached base all season has been via a base on balls. Rachel is very good at drawing a walk. She loves to stand there and watch the pitches go by.

The regular season finished with Rachel still on the hunt for her first base hit. She entered the tournament with one instruction from me - swing the bat. I knew she was likely to strike out, so I wanted her to go down swinging rather than looking. The opening tourney game on Thursday saw her come to the plate twice. She watched nine pitches and drew two walks. After the game, I gently reminded her of my only directive. She fell into a sulk until bedtime. Before her shower she was overheard giving herself a pep talk into the bathroom mirror. All she wanted was one hit. She didn’t want a win, she didn’t want an RBI, she didn’t care what happened in the rest of the game - she wanted a hit. The coaching staff wanted her to get a hit. We ALL wanted her to get a hit. Personally, I had just about given up. I didn’t want a hit, I only wanted her to swing.

During Friday’s game she was waiting in the on-deck circle when our head coach strode over to have a little word with her. He grabbed Rachel by the facemask and reminded her, “You can hit that ball!” I remained silent so I wouldn’t put any undue pressure on her. (Dawn and the rest of the kids were at David’s game) She took her place in the batter’s box and assumed her stance. The first pitch sailed by and she didn’t even flinch. Ball one. “Come on Rachel!” I encouraged from the stands. She backed out and took her practice swing like she does after every pitch. The pitcher’s next offering floated towards the plate and I knew if she would only give it a try she could actually hit it. Lo and behold, she decided to get the lumber off her shoulder for the first time in several games. She took a gentle cut and shocked the world by actually connecting with the ball. It went shooting down the third base line and Rachel recovered from her surprise quickly enough to take off for first base. The third baseman fielded the grounder and tossed it to first too late. There is joy in Mudville, Rachel Leman has gotten a hit!

The third row of the bleachers exploded in a loud celebration. I and our friends jumped to our feet screaming and cheering. Coach Bob looked at me from the first base box and pointed and smiled. Rachel’s face could not contain the pure joy and relief that flowed over her. She had set one goal for herself, and it wasn’t an outlandish unreachable goal. She wanted to contribute to the team by getting a hit. Finally, spectacularly, wonderfully, she had reached her goal. Sometimes the effort is worth the effort, but other times, success is so much sweeter.

As a fan of the game, I’m not much of a fan of the game. As a proud father of a hardworking girl, I couldn’t have enjoyed it more.

We lost the game to end our season. I don’t care. It was the best game all year.