Softball season is almost over.
Although my blog started out two years ago as an outlet for me that I shared with family and friends, it’s grown into something bigger than I ever anticipated, so most of the posts here are written with a larger audience than just my “in real life” circle. I’m deviating from that focus just a little bit today, but I hope that it’ll be encouraging to a few of my “imaginary” friends and readers, as well.
My brother-in-law has been saying he wished he could see Sarah Kate play softball, so I carried the Flip video camera along for Monday night’s game. The first video is from Sarah Kate’s third at bat of the evening. Just try to ignore my voice on the video – I can’t help myself. 🙂
The second video is of her first at bat. Pay special attention to the man in the stands behind me who speaks around 20 seconds in.
“She’ll get it next time.”
In the moment, I didn’t hear him. It wasn’t until I was reviewing the video that I realized what he’d said. He wasn’t talking to me, or to Mr. Andi, but to his mom that he was sitting with in the stands. The players couldn’t hear him. The coaches couldn’t hear him. Sarah Kate may not be able to run fast, but she’s a consistent hitter, and everyone recognizes it.
When the season started and she did relatively well, I was happy, but braced myself for the inevitable end of the season when the other girls would be much improved but she wouldn’t. Yes, it’s been tougher for her to get on base, but she’s still a valued member of the team. She bats in the middle of the order, which isn’t too shabby.
Due to my poor video skills (whoops!), you may be wondering if she was safe or not in the second video. She was. The first baseman (who’s one of the best players in the 8U league) made a classic mistake: assuming the easy play and looking ahead to the next one. She was so focused on getting the runner ahead of Sarah Kate out that she failed to tag the base.
I so needed to see these videos today. I know this will sound weird from someone you’ve never met but I’m so proud of Sarah Kate, and of you. Listening to the girls in the dugout cheer for Sarah Kate, watching her stay in it and wait to hit just the right pitch, running to first, listening to you cheer her on, all of it just makes me so honored to witness this with you in some small way.
<3 to all of you.
Thanks, k! It was tough in the beginning – my stomach was in knots every time – but I’ve gotten better at it as the season has gone on. I still get nervous when she gets up to bat, but I think it’s “regular nervous” instead of “cerebral palsy nervous” now. 🙂 More importantly, it’s been a good experience for her, and I think it’s helped her physically, as well. She seems to be “running” faster – we can almost call it real running now – and her balance seems to be have improved. Save the nasty board member with a lust for power, it’s been a perfect season!
So. Forgive me, Andi. Please.
I’ve always wondered what your voice sounded like. I knew you’re from the South and I wondered how much of a drawl you had. So yeah, I totally giggled. 🙂 I wasn’t expecting you to sound SO much like Tina. (Don’t ask me why.)
But the part of the video that touched my heart the most was when SK fell and we hear your slight groan. Oh, there was just so MUCH behind that! I heard it and felt it. But not for SK. She just got herself up, dusted herself off, and started all over again!
GO SARAH KATE!!
Okay, so I’ve been trying to figure out for the past, oh, fifteen hours who Tina is. Enlighten me, please?
And yes, I do have a southern accent, but I don’t think it’s as strong in regular conversation as it is hollerin’ 🙂 Believe it or not, in certain areas of the state I have had people ask me in the past where I was from because of my accent. Um, what?
Sarah Kate has fallen a few times this year, but most times have been when she was running, not batting. She actually injured herself on a slip-n-slide on Sunday afternoon and had been complaining about her leg hurting all day, but wanted to still play. I was worried about her, but she played well!
I’ll send you a message with a link to Tina’s picture on FB. 🙂 She’s from ROTE but doesn’t post a lot.
That was one of the best softball hitters I have seen. Oh thank you so much for sharing these videos!
Love this! Being an avid softball player in school and in league as I got older, and now having a little girl with CP, I love these video’s! Sarah Kate is amazing!
My daughter just turned 5 and is playing t-ball this summer. She is so excited! She can’t run, but she can throw farther than her brothers and she can hit the ball just as good! She’s so excited to play. I can’t wait to show her these video’s.
I’m so glad you’re having your daughter play t-ball, Becky! I wish we had started Sarah Kate in softball last year – or even the year before – but we had no idea she was interested in it. I promise you that if she can hit the ball, she will do well!
Hi Andi
I have CP too and used to play all kiinds of sports, inculding softball, I have been reading for awhile now and wanted to introduce myself. I am a 20 year old college student/ special olympics athlete. Sarah looks like she is an good althelte. Has she tried golf? I was able to play on the high school golf team
Thanks for posting, AZ! Good for you for disregarding your challenges and jumping into sports! Sarah Kate has not tried golf yet (other than going here and there with Mr. Andi – she has two clubs that were given to her by friends), but I’ve been talking to Mr. Andi about starting her in golf. I think it would be great for her balance.
I needed this video too. It made me cry with such pride to see her playing so beautifully and confidently. My son is much younger, 3, but I have such hopes and dreams for him. Videos like these make me so happy and proud. Thank you so very much xx
One word of advice: don’t ever think he can’t do it if he says he wants to try. Mr. Andi and I both were very hesistant to Sarah Kate do swim team, and then later to do softball, but we took a chance and let her try. I shudder to think of what she would have missed if we hadn’t been willing to set aside our own fears.