Help!

Today I started coaching a U10 softball team in an instructional league at Cascades. I was super nervous heading over to the ball park. I haven't coached kids this young in a while. Also, I had no assistants. I knew I had some 2nd graders through 5th graders in this group. As soon as I arrived, I saw a familiar face from my youth, Carlie Clingerman. He was my good friend's older brother. They both attended Northwest Schools. Charlie has been around base all for a long time. He's umpired since high school as well. He introduced me to his daughter and immediately asked me if I wanted some help! My thought, "HECK YA!!" I said, "Yes! Absolutely!" 

And Charlie was awesome. He knew some of the girls who were friends with his daughter. He has coached some little league softball. We met with the umpire and away we went. It was great!

I was so thankful for Charlie who I could trust and gave me a ton of help. True story, before we started, I said ok so you hit the ball and run to first base right! The. Listen to coach and do what he says. The first second grader was up. As she walks to the plate, she stops, grabs my shirt for me to lower to her level and whispers, "where's first?!" So cute! I pointed. She smiled and stepped into the box. Funny. I also have two 5th graders who hit from both sides of the plate and slapped hit too! So...there is a huge range of talent in this group!

I'm happy to be coaching. I'm also happy for the great help I received today too!