Today Western Softball 2013 ended. Today our seniors ended four years of hard work and dedication. Today, our juniors became seniors on the varsity team. Today our seniors are officially done. Today, we shared tears!
I haven't had a group quite like this one in a long time. This was the hardest ending in a long time. It wasn't hard because it was over, but because of the heart our team had. The passion each senior carried for the game of softball made the ending even harder. We barely made it off the field before the tears started rolling. We circled up to talk. The first thing I said was how much I hate the ending. It's the toughest part of coaching by far. More tears started rolling. As Coach Klassen thanked the team, more tears. Coach Farmer started to talk, but couldn't hold back tears either. Mine had already begun. I heard Madison Cooper sob and the flood gates opened, not just for me, but for most the rest of the team as well. I could barely look at Hannah Boyt whose head was buried in her jersey. Each of the seniors said a few words. The juniors one by one, slowly sobbed too. What a train of sad emotions. Luckily Carlie Morrow had some tissues to share. We all needed them.
Now, I'm not happy that we lost today and ended such a fun season, but it was a slightly satisfying feeling to know that everyone and I mean everyone sitting there, had tears in their eyes. They all cared about each other and the season so much, they too didn't like the ending. I can honestly say its been a long time since since I've had so many tears. This says a lot about our team. It reflects how dearly our seniors will be missed. It reflects how this team was a family. It reflects how we played for the names on the front of our jersey's and not the names on the back. We were a team. No drama. Just softball. It was a bittersweet moment.
Today I am thankful that when I look back to the end of the season, I know each of these girls got it. They were a hard working family. They cared. I thankful for our TEARS today.
