Lady Bears

As soon as the spring softball seasoned ended, games for the Lady Bears all-star team began.  Six of the girls were on Craig's Braves team and already had great chemistry.  The rest of the girls fit right in, and they made for an impressive team.  They played every Tuesday night during June in a double header tournament league at our park.  One of the teams in that league was much more experienced than we were, but we held our own with them and barely came in 2nd place in the bottom of the last inning of the last game when a girl that wasn't even on their team hit an out of the park home run.  Carter was devastated and cried during that ring ceremony, so we had a major family pow wow on the ride home about managing emotions and how to act when we don't come in first place.  I get it...winning is fun!  Winning is something she grew accustom to this summer, because the Lady Bears won the championship ring at three of the four tournaments they participated in.  Coach Craig and I have talked a lot about how none of the girls really overshadowed their teammates, but collectively they were great!

The first Saturday tournament was apparently sponsored by Dicks Sporting Goods, because "DICKS"...bold print and huge lettering...was written across the face of the ring...a ring given to 8 year old girls.  At their second championship ring ceremony, they were pleased to find a different ring design and announced (on repeat) that the ring "doesn't say DICKS!" 

Several people have asked Craig to coach a true travel team, but thankfully he has declined that offer...for now.  The semi-local tournaments and games were challenging enough with a toddler and Charley's full calendar.  When Charley did have free time, she was a life saver and stayed home with Camryn.  It was the only time I could really watch the games, and it was time that I am so thankful for.

Craig has talked a little bit about the possibility of continuing the Lady Bears into the fall and next year...on a very small scale...and that is an idea I can get behind.  The parents and girls on this team were pretty special, and I love the possibility of seeing where things go.  

The last tournament of the season was supposed to be out of town and include a few nights in a hotel...every 8 year old kid's dream.  Very few teams signed up for our division, so we scrapped the tournament and planned a full day of fun at SoundWaves.  It was an even better experience than 3 nights in a hotel in Clarksville and the perfect ending to a great season!