First Weekend of Fall

Last year at this time so many things were different.  This first weekend of fall ball was the first time that I would play with the Danes. I can remember being so nervous and worried about how things would go. Driving up to Hudson this year was completely different.  I was still nervous but it was excited nervous, the way you get before you step into the box for your first at-bat of the day. I felt completely comfortable and was excited to continue learning and improving. 

Another huge difference was in the way I played. Looking back over the year I see how much the Danes have shaped me already anf how much I have improved.  Coming into the fall season when I hit, I didnt even stride. I was a squash the bug kid! After my first day in hudson I can remeber thinking man these guys are crazy! They want me to change the way I hit and do all these weird things! But I decided that for the fall I would try it. Try to do something new and if it didnt work out we can always go back to where we were. Back in those days I was actually the crazy one. Once I was exposed to the different ways the danes hit, field, and communicate I never went back. Its incredible that in one year I have learned so much and come so far. But I know I can keep improving so much more.

We kicked off the first weekend of fall ball with 8 games in two days! The first day was in Hudson Wisconsin.  It was a great day to meet all of the new players and start to step up as one of the leaders on the team. It is a lot of teaching which is very good for us because as you teach something you also relearn it. We saw a ton of progress on the first day and had me excited for the next day. Our second day was in Shoreview Minnesota.  We haf another four games which left me wiped after the weekend. But it was definitely worth it. You learn a lot ehen your body is fatigued and especially that you really can keep going even when you think your tank is empty. It always suprises me how I learn in just one weekend of playing even though ive been playing for what feels like my whole life. It was a great weekend and definitely a step in thr right direction for not only my teammates but for myself.

Playing with the Danes a huge part of the message is not only to learn about softball but to also apply it to your life as well. One thing I learned was that when you do things the right way, you will get the results you want. I learned this from one at-bat. During the day I have been struggling with pulling my shoulder off the ball and needed to stay more linear. So in one at-bat Tim says do reverse top hand.  I try it once and foul a ball straight back. Then I go back to hitting normal. I pull it foul once again, so back to reverse top hand. On the next pitch I connect and hit the ball over the fence. Doing my mechanics the right way gave me the result that I wanted.

The biggest lesson I learned was to appreciate all the things people do for us. Our coaches take their own time to help us learn and get better, our teachers give us extra help outside of class when we don't understand, and our parents.  Our parents take care of us, bring us everywhere. Not everyone has the benefit of having two parents like I do. I won't ever take my parents for granted again. Make sure you tell your parents that you love them, im sure it means the world to them that you care almost as much as they care about you.