Lady Vols softball

So to prove that you can never have enough softball in your life, we and several other families from Megan's team showed up on Sunday at the Lady Vols softball game. We watched them beat Illinois St. 8-4.





We took a picture of the All Americans roll because Megan's hitting instructor, Sarah Fekete, is listed. She's a real celebrity!








The girls had fun.





Nicholas got cold.










And after a fruitless wait for the players to come out, they resorted to signing each others t-shirts and called it a day!

First Softball Tournament of the Season, Chattanooga, TN

After a long, cold winter, softball season is back! We had a bright, sunny day for our first tournament in Chattanooga. It was cool, but pleasant in the sun. The girls were excited to get back out on the field and test out some of the many things they have been working on since January.

The girls relax before heading to the ballfield.

The coaches can't stop talking strategy.

One last text before hitting the dirt!

A few cobwebs were evident at her first at-bat.

This one ended better!

Megan hit well all day, and played some very effective defense both at shortstop and in centerfield. She tagged out 3 runners trying to steal, including one time coming in from centerfield to cover second.














The girls took a moment between at bats for a photo op. Haley doesn't like cameras, but Ashley does!


The little brothers and sisters found ways to keep busy. And warm!











By the time the sun went down, the temperature was heading in the same direction. But our diehard fans weren't going to miss a second. Hats, gloves, blankets, even a sleeping bag!






















Not everyone was so sensitive to the cold, though. Here's Coach Mike sporting his shorts well after sundown. We don't recommend trying this at home :)

1st place in the first tournament of the fall season!

Megan's softball team opened their fall season with a bang, going undefeated to win their tournament this weekend in Knoxville.









They faced some good competition, and had to come back in extra innings to win the championship game, but they never stopped battling and came out on top. In fact, Megan scored the winning run by stealing home on a passed ball! It was very exciting!

The tournament was at Caswell Field, which despite their draconian rules concerning bringing food into the park (you can't), does have a pretty nice facility. The dugouts are HUGE and even have water fountains inside. Clearly they didn't think that all the way through, as the girls had great fun "showering" and spraying water everywhere.









Doesn't she look tough?








Nah!!!









Little brother Nicholas clearly hanging on every pitch (NOT!)








Here's Megan warming up...



...and batting....










....and I even got several of her scoring. Get out of the way, catcher!










But I didn't get one of the slide into home to win the game. It's hard to take a picture when you are jumping up and down!

Learning to slide

So Megan's softball claim to fame is her speed. She is a really fast runner, and has become a great baserunner. She steals second and third with ease, and just let the catcher allow a ball to get away from her, and she'll steal home as well.


But she doesn't slide.


Or at least not well. Or very often.


She has gotten burned a few times, getting thrown out when she likely could have been safe. But to this point, her speed has saved her and she can (mostly) get away with not sliding.


But eventually, she will have to slide. So we got out the Slip 'n Slide. Nicholas was all for this.










Practicing her sliding form:


Get that leg out there!



Don't sit down!










Better!












Now you're getting it!!!










Of course, head first is always the most fun!












One thing she doesn't need practice in, bossing!