The main point of going to Reno was so I could help coach the Rage 16u softball team during the Nevada State Championships. One of the real drawbacks of our impending move is that I have to give up my assistant coachIng position with this team. I doubt that I will ever have the opportunity to coach a team this talented again -- and besides great talent, they are great kids.
I also truly enjoy coaching with Coach Julia Meyn. She really knows the game, and she is in it for the right reasons -- to develop the girls' skills, prepare them for the next level, and most importantly to develop the girls as responsible teammates and people. We coach from the same page, and I have learned a lot about the game and about coaching from her.
I've coached with Julia since last fall. The Rage organization has a rule: no parent coaches. I had helped Julia on occasion, but couldn't be a coach because Melissa played on Julia's team. When Melissa moved up to 18u last fall, we realized the rule didn't apply any more, so I started helping out, and it has been one of the most rewarding coaching experiences I've had (and I've had a lot of coaching experiences).
When I found out we were moving last fall, I told Coach Julia I had to be done. Our team's goal was to win state, and Coach Julia asked me if I could be involved through the state tournament. I couldn't have been happier to do it. So in all my travels, a couple weekends were held sacred, untouchable. State was one of those weekends.
As you can see from the photo, we accomplished our goal -- and we did it the hard way, losing a heartbreaker in our second game 4-2, then working our way back through the "losers bracket" to win the whole thing with excellent performances in the championship games over the team that handed us our one loss. The best part was the entire team contributed throughout the tournament with clutch hits, tough defense, excellent base running, strong pitching, and lots of noise. It was a great weekend.
Melissa met me in Reno, where she played in the state 18u tournament. Her team didn't fare as well as mine, but we had a good time together. After a long day's run to the title (the loser's bracket always makes for long days), Melissa and I celebrated with "Oakland style" barbecue (which we think means "ghetto style" -- not there's anything wrong with that) in a converted house in downtown Reno (it was fantastic, by the way).
Like all good things, I guess, my time with the team has to come to an end. But I'll continue to cheer for Coach Julia and for the girls, who all have bright futures ahead of them (on and off the field) -- and I have memories that will last a lifetime.
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