I'll (Sal) be umping a Girls Junior High Softball game this coming Tuesday (6/7/05), so I decided to look into the rules and tips of the game.
What I Learn from a Softball Game Knee Injury?
*wrote this today (Saturday, May 5th of 2007) after submitting this to Sermon on the Mound, book questionaaire by Michael O' Connor (found this site while searching for the Biblical story).
I was playing softball for my church (Morris, MN) co-ed team back in the summer of 2003. We kept on losing one game after another in this church softball league in (20 minutes southwest) Benson, Minnesota. In one of the games towards the end of the season, I was getting very frustrated. We were losing pretty badly and I was having some negative thoughts in my head as I was playing second base. The ball was hit to me and made an awkward dive-just missing the ball! I ended up limping off the field after that inning and ended up getting some crutches. I tore something (nothing too serious) by my knee (had an injury in the same area previously while down-hill skiing 6-7 years ago) and had to rest this left leg. God taught me to humble myself and not take the game too seriously. During the weeks of rest, I had some long quiet times with God and was ministered too by my Heavenly Father!
College
-Women
SB 2010 -- Pennie Is Pleased
Team
{2010}
{2009}
AER Offense 2009
"American Eagle Realty softball team - Offense "
*from Thursday, July 16th of 2009
Sals1stTurnDoublePlay
Looking Ahead and not dwelling in the Past
Today (Sunday, July 19th of 2009), I decided to add to this "highlight" after a great service this morning at my local church. I was "encouraged" to hear the importance of "encouraging" one another-especially as a church "body" mentioned many times in the Bible. I then reflected about my "first" double play this past Thursday. I realized or remembered that this double-play came about after not getting a routine ground ball quicker enough to get one of the runners out. Thus, this guy made it to first and a "bad" situation can be a "good" opportunity to redeem myself if I get a double-play. My Coach ("Bobby") reminded me "again" to "not" dwell on this "error" and get ready for the next play. Well, I actually didn't think of this "double-play" when this came about with the "next" batter. I was so excited that I was pumped up rest of the game-even though I missed some more opportunities (on the field and off). However, I feel getting this "first-time" ever play just built my confidence to play "better" the rest of the season. Also, from the "message" theme from church service this morning, I feel that this can be applied "off-the-field" too. I was struggling to remember a popular quote from a previous message at a church meeting or gathering, but got some help after asking God...
We sometimes dwell in our "mistakes" and it clouds our mind to focus on your current situation (e.g. how a sports player makes another "error" because he/she is dwelling on his/her previous "error") or the future. This is where encouraging one another comes- it might take a friend, teammate, fellow church member, family, etc.... to "take your mind off" your "error" (e.g. challenges, worries, etc...) and re-focus to the current situation. Someone close to you might not always be there to do this, so you just need to call upon the Lord (e.g. lay your "burdens" before Him on the Cross) -Heavenly Father-reading His Word (has many samples of people who made "mistakes" and got a "second chance" to turn their lives around!-e.g. "King David", who committed adultery) can help you to do this "daily"!!
I decided to add more to this today (Tuesday, July 21st of 2009). I feel when we dwell so much about our past, it prevents us to "fully" live our current lives to be "successful" in the future.
I remember back in high school pinch-running for a teammate of mine in a Junior Varsity (J.V.) game. It was my sophomore year and was so excited to play J.V. (I've been playing for the 9th grade baseball team still in my sophomore year!!) for a BIG game (it was against St. Paul Conference Champs or "Best"-Cretin Durham Hall). Well, I pinched-run for a teammate of mine on first base and was able to move as far as 3rd base. I was so excited that I was leaning off too far from 3rd base because I was anxious to get to "home" plate. The opposing team's catcher notice my BIG lead, so he threw to the 3rd basemen and got me out! I actually cried after the game-yeah, I know-"there is no crying in baseball" (a line from the movie, "A League of Their Own"). Well, after this "unforgotten-traumatizing" moment in my high school sports career, I would dwell in this play forever in and out of the field. I would be afraid to take chances because I would be afraid of making the same or similar mistake. It took me awhile to get over it, but if I knew God (accept Him as my "Lord" and "Savior" to begin a personal relationship) as I do now- the only thing I had to do is ask God-Heavenly Father in prayer (sample below) to "heal" me from things of the past that has scarred me for life. Well, I would continue to make more mistakes (some bigger than this!) in life and will continue to in the future. However, we can help and encourage others, so they won't make the same mistake or speak into those going through a "mistake". To close, here is a "sample" prayer you can ask God if you are going through a similar situation....
Softball 09
"A few clips from the June 16th softball games "
{2008}
Personal Stat:
First Last Name PA AB R H 1B 2B 3B HR RBI TB SO BB SAC BA OBP SLG
Sal Monteagudo 47 46 12 25 25 0 0 0 4 25 1 1 0 0.543 0.553 0.543
End of Year Results and Leaders/Records
Record: 5-13
Longest Hit Streak: 18 games (Bobby)
Most Hits in a Game: 4 (Kris, Sal, Bobby)
Batting Champ: Joe (.581)
RBI Champ: Adam Hanson (21)
Home Run Champ: Bobby (1)
Organizations
Death
-Memorial
PCM Mustangs Softball team give love to Kayla
"more about Kayla at KaylaBoner.com..
Life
-Kindness-"Sportsmanship"
The Home Run
"When a homerun means so much more. Sportsmanship and love on display, truly inspiring."
Magazines
Organizations
Playing Tips
Cash Pitching tips-1
"Steve Butler and Ray Cash giving pitching tips"
Politics
-National Anthem
National Anthem
"In May 2008 I was invited to sing the National Anthem at a Celebrity Softball game in Oklahoma City."
Regulations
Skills
-Hitting
Slowpitch Softball Tips with Combat Softball
"From the DVD: "Sixty Minutes to Better Slowpitch Softball." Available at www.bestdamnbats.com "
Softball Hitting : How Rotational Power is Generated by the HIps
"Ken Van Bogaert and sportstechnique.com Shows how the hips generate and deliver explosive rotational hitting power. Also explains the correct swing plane,and how it plays a role in
setting the path of the swing. For slowpitch softball. "
MLB 09: The Show double play, from youtube.com
"An awesome behind-the-back double play turned by Cleveland. See my other gameplay shorts for more great little things that this game offers! "
2B Double Play Pivot Drill, from youtube.com
"Double Play Pivot for Second Basemen "
How To Turn a Double Play : Turning a 4-6-3 Double Play, from youtube.com
Jump Turn @ Second Base, from youtube.com
"Drew shows us a great example of the jump turn at second base. First of all notice his body position and glove position when he receives the ball. He then jumps into position to square himself to second base. Finally he locks his glove in on the throw to ensure accuracy. "
Double Play Mental Approach, from youtube.com
"Many times when a middle infielder is trying to turn a double play they have a tendency to rush and speed up so they can get both outs. What they don't realize is that they are already quick enough to turn the double play and don't need to rush. This video is me explaining to my group of the mental approach necessary when turning a double play. "
Umpire
Women
The Faith of Olympic Softball Monica Abbott - CBN.com
"The 700 Club interviews with U.S. Olympic Softball player/pitcher Monica Abbott. The softball star discusses the important role faith plays in her life. The Christian Broadcasting Network. To see more from The 700 Club, go to http://www.cbn.com"
Camps
English-Softball Camp 2007
"Angol T�bor 2007"