~***Softball***~

Some say it's just a sport. Others say it's a hobby. But I say, it's a passion.

Most people I know can't stand getting "down and dirty." I am sorry if you are one of those people but that bugs me. If you aren't dirty or sweaty, you didn't work hard enough. If you aren't aching the day after your first practice, you didn't work hard enough. If you don't bleed at least once during the season or practice, you didn't work hard enough. I've been taught the "no blood, no foul" rule since I was young (Thanks Dad!), but now, bleeding or bruising is the best thing in the world.

Jen (my coach) made me put on a helmet for catching for one of our pitchers today. All I needed was a helmet but I didn't want one. I wanted to take the chance of getting hurt. I even told my coach that getting a broken nose just made for an exciting practice. I didn't exactly get away with that....

Ever since my first year of softball, I have loved it. It's like a second nature to me. When I pitch I automatically look for the "C" in the ball and grab it without thinking about it. Throwing is almost way too natural for me anymore. Catcher's position is so comfortable to me. While most are complaining that they can't get down that far, I'm down and ready. I know I'm making me sound like an amazing player which I really am not, but I am a hard worker.

Ah, the ballpark. My second home in the summer. The food, the friends, the game. It's too good to be true. They say that Disney World is "the happiest place on Earth" but I think the ballpark is a close second.

Teamwork is more important than anything in this game. And, like any other game, teamwork requires effort. "There's a moment of orderly silence before a football play begins" (Guess which movie that's from!). There is also a moment of orderly silence before the snap of the pitcher's wrist. I think that time is mainly used for players to get focused and situated. I know I used that time to brace myself for whatever was about to happen next, mainly because I definitely had doubts about my fellow teammates. "Your team is your family" is also a great line in that movie. Nobody likes to admit it, but we all have doubts about our family therefore, we will obviously have doubts about our teammates. I never could guess what was about to happen the next pitch or the next hit. I guess faith is also a big thing in teamwork. Faith is saying you believe in other people or events. I had faith in my pitcher last year. I knew how she felt by her faces, grunt sounds, and even her pitch. And no, teamwork never rests on the pitcher even though she is a major roll in the team. Teamwork rests on each and every one of the team.

I know I talk about softball almost 24/7. But can you blame me? When you love something and have a passion for it, aren't you going to talk about it constantly?

Some say it's just a sport. Others say it's a hobby. But I say, it's a passion.