There’s Something about a Softball Player

There’s just something about a softball player. The sun in the scorching summer heat beats down on her. It may be the third or fourth game of the day. She’s been on that ball diamond before the morning dew even rose off the field, and she’s determined to keep winning, to keep playing as that sun melts beyond the horizon.

Her eye-black is smeared from sweat. Her knees and legs are covered in dirt. The part between her braids will be sunburnt by the day’s end. She’s hot and she’s tired and she’s so dirty she’s sure she can taste the grit between her teeth.

When the day on the ballfield is finally over, there will be nothing like the shower to wash the dirt and grime that follows a day well spent at the ballfields. She’ll crash in her bed, practically asleep before her head hits the pillow, excited to wake before the sun’s barely risen to play again.

Though she should be ready to call it a day or a weekend, when it’s lose or go home, there’s just something about a girl who grew up on dirt and ball diamonds. Because when that game is close, the bases are loaded, the count is full, you can see the glint in her eye that she’s not ready to call it a day just yet.

Because she wants it. She wants that win. She wants to pitch that winning strikeout. She wants to hit in the winning run. She wants to make that game-ending final out. Even if it means continuing to play when she’s not sure how much more she truly has left to give to the day, she wants it. There’s just something about her.

Whether she’s the one standing in the circle or the one in the batter’s box, she’s ready for that next pitch. The batter tightens her hands on that bat in that batter box. The pitcher grips the ball tighter in that circle. Too often it comes down to a single moment. You versus them. The cheering of the crowd fades in the background as they face off. One of them will win the battle and get to go on to the next game. The pressure is intense; the crowd holds their breath, but the look of determination on her face says she’s got it.

Because win or lose, at that moment, champions—weekend after weekend—are made on that ball diamond. Because you can’t defeat the heart of a girl who grew up on dirt and diamonds.

~from a girl who grew up on dirt and diamonds

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Articles by Angela Williams Glenn

Angela Williams Glenn

Angela Williams Glenn writes about the struggles and joys of motherhood. Her book Moms, Monsters, Media, and Margaritas examines the expectations verse the realities of motherhood in our modern day digital era and her book Letters to a Daughter is an interactive journal for mothers to their daughters. She’s also been published with Chicken Soup for the Soul, TAAVI Village, Bored Teachers, and Filter Free Parents. You can find her humorous and uplifting stories on Facebook page.

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