Post by Yeseeka on Jun 7, 2014 21:22:58 GMT -8
As some of you may know, our DiamondThief and her high school softball team played earlier today for the state championship. So you know, she is the starting second baseman and she has started every game this year. She also started every game last year at second base and every game on JV two years ago.
I know my sister very, very well. She is dedicated to her team. This year she was made one of two team captains. She puts everything into her practices, preparations and games. Last year the team was 7-7 in league and missed the playoffs. This year they had a share of the league title at 12-2 and made it to the state final game. Unfortunately, her team fell a little short and lost the game, 2-1. It was a great game and except for a tough sixth inning they may have won. You know something, they did win. They won because they fought for every run on offense and every out on defense. They won because they never gave up. They fought because, in the words of my sister, they left everything on that field. I have mad respect for my sister and her teammates. I am proud of them.
I talk to my sister nearly every day and during softball season, a lot of the conversations turn to her team and what they wanted to accomplish. She was surprised when her team named her a team captain before the season started. She shouldn't have been. She's a leader, nurturer and a damn tough cookie. She is the perfect team captain because of those things.
I love sister with all my heart. She has turned into an extremely amazing young woman. When the last out was made and her team was on the short end of the scoreboard, I cried. Everyone in my family cried. I mean, everyone. We had all come to be there for the DiamondThief. She had played amazingly and they really almost won before that sixth inning lapse. Right after the game, she and the team exchanged congratulations with the victors. It was probably the hardest thing I can imagine my sister ever having to do. That is, until she met the captain of the opponent to congratulate them. It was a matter of team captain honor.
Before our team hit the showers we had a chance to meet with my sister before we came home, and she and her team returned to the school on the team bus. I know how upset she would be. My sister is a rock in our family. She is intelligent, compassionate and lives by a high moral code. We were about 50 feet from her when she made her way to us. I told our youngest sister, sixth and a half year old Monika, that at that moment she had to be the strong one. I told her to just tell her she loved her and give her a big hug. Angi's expression was sadness and anger. Monika stepped in front of everyone and called out to her. She approached and knelt down. As she did, Monika grabbed Angi's head and held it on her shoulders. She whispered in Angi's ear and I saw a forced smile which might have been forced, but it was genuine too.
We all hugged my sister and told her we loved her and so forth. I was the last to speak to her. I told her I am proud of her, I love her, and I am amazed by her.
She went with her team back to their school and from there they all went to one of their teammate's houses for a party. We have returned to our house and are talking about how much we admire my sister's determination, love for her teammates and her dedication to being the best teammate and leader she can be. I love my sister and I am proud of her. Not just because of softball, but because of the person she is.
My sister's team did not win the championship today, but they won. They won for the progress they made and for the heart their leader showed. That will never be rewarded by a trophy, but it will always be rewarded by the pride I feel in my heart for her.
I know my sister very, very well. She is dedicated to her team. This year she was made one of two team captains. She puts everything into her practices, preparations and games. Last year the team was 7-7 in league and missed the playoffs. This year they had a share of the league title at 12-2 and made it to the state final game. Unfortunately, her team fell a little short and lost the game, 2-1. It was a great game and except for a tough sixth inning they may have won. You know something, they did win. They won because they fought for every run on offense and every out on defense. They won because they never gave up. They fought because, in the words of my sister, they left everything on that field. I have mad respect for my sister and her teammates. I am proud of them.
I talk to my sister nearly every day and during softball season, a lot of the conversations turn to her team and what they wanted to accomplish. She was surprised when her team named her a team captain before the season started. She shouldn't have been. She's a leader, nurturer and a damn tough cookie. She is the perfect team captain because of those things.
I love sister with all my heart. She has turned into an extremely amazing young woman. When the last out was made and her team was on the short end of the scoreboard, I cried. Everyone in my family cried. I mean, everyone. We had all come to be there for the DiamondThief. She had played amazingly and they really almost won before that sixth inning lapse. Right after the game, she and the team exchanged congratulations with the victors. It was probably the hardest thing I can imagine my sister ever having to do. That is, until she met the captain of the opponent to congratulate them. It was a matter of team captain honor.
Before our team hit the showers we had a chance to meet with my sister before we came home, and she and her team returned to the school on the team bus. I know how upset she would be. My sister is a rock in our family. She is intelligent, compassionate and lives by a high moral code. We were about 50 feet from her when she made her way to us. I told our youngest sister, sixth and a half year old Monika, that at that moment she had to be the strong one. I told her to just tell her she loved her and give her a big hug. Angi's expression was sadness and anger. Monika stepped in front of everyone and called out to her. She approached and knelt down. As she did, Monika grabbed Angi's head and held it on her shoulders. She whispered in Angi's ear and I saw a forced smile which might have been forced, but it was genuine too.
We all hugged my sister and told her we loved her and so forth. I was the last to speak to her. I told her I am proud of her, I love her, and I am amazed by her.
She went with her team back to their school and from there they all went to one of their teammate's houses for a party. We have returned to our house and are talking about how much we admire my sister's determination, love for her teammates and her dedication to being the best teammate and leader she can be. I love my sister and I am proud of her. Not just because of softball, but because of the person she is.
My sister's team did not win the championship today, but they won. They won for the progress they made and for the heart their leader showed. That will never be rewarded by a trophy, but it will always be rewarded by the pride I feel in my heart for her.
Graphic courtesy of David.
