It was a scoreless NCS D1 Semifinal game with 1 out in Top 5 and #7 Kaitlyn Le (P) was near-perfect, having faced the minimum number in the circle thus far — pitching to 13 batters and recording 13 outs. Then, a harmless routine infield pop up to the right side from the 14th batter would create just the briefest moment of defensive confusion, resulting in the ball falling onto dirt instead of leather, and instantaneously the game changed. That’s softball.
We so love this sport that can put immense fulfillment into your heart before ripping it right out of your chest. In an instant, the highest high can be followed by the lowest low, yet we still love it and we keep coming back for more. That’s softball.
We were so close this year to doing the near-impossible — after already doing last year what many thought was not possible. We could see it. We could smell it. We could taste it. The chance to repeat — to become back-to-back North Coast Section Division 1 Champions — was right there, in front of us, in our grasp…but in the blink of “1i” it vanished. That’s softball.
To every player on this inspirational 2024 Cal Grizzly Softball team — Shayla, Kayla, Ashley, Alina, Maddie, Kirsten, Jayda, Amanda, Reese, Hailey King, Katie, Spidey, and Keven:
Hold your head high. Be proud of yourself. Be proud of your team. Be proud of your school. Be thankful for the support of your family. Be grateful for the experience. Be humble because of the experience. You are an inspiration to each other, to your coaches, to your family, and to your community. Keep playing. Keep competing. Keep working hard to achieve what might seem unachievable. Keep imagining the feeling you will have when you actually achieve it. That’s why you play this wonderful sport. That’s softball.
With heartfelt fondness and extreme gratitude….thank you for letting me be your coach. I’m so immensely proud of you all.
— Coach Tony
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