For our first jaunt of the new year, I headed down to Tuscaloosa on Friday afternoon for Caroline and a friend, Claudette, to attend a 3-hour softball hitting clinic at The University of Alabama on Saturday. On that cloudy, cold morning, we were thrilled that the event was being held inside the Hank Crispin Indoor Facility. This is the indoor football practice field, and I will tell you that it was inspiring to be able to be inside such hallowed walls! (If only the walls could talk!)
The entire Alabama softball team and its coaches were on hand to share with hundreds of young women the techniques that they use that carry them on to the World Series of fastpitch softball. And last summer, Caroline had attended a summer camp with some of these players, and she was eager to return to reacquaint herself with a couple of the girls she admired. Fortunately, one of those players led her in the bunting station, and she even used Caroline's bat to demonstrate! That was exciting for Caroline to witness! I was on hand to witness this lesson, and even I was impressed with what was shared.
I can tell you that my takeaway was that if Caroline wants to entertain the idea of playing on a college level, we have long roads of lessons and practice ahead of us. There are many improvements and accomplishments to achieve. Whatever the case, attending these opportunities are a privilege, and invaluable lessons can be learned and applied in life.
And doses of some Crimson Tide spirit can never hurt! Roll Tide!
Coach Pat Murphy, a.k.a "Murph"
Outfielder Brittany Rogers
3rd Base"woman", Kelley "Monty" Montalvo
