While most young girls spent their summers at the swimming pool or relaxing around the house, a group of softball players from Hueytown spent their vacation winning their district and state tournaments, then winning the runner-up title for the state of Alabama in the Dixie Softball World Series.
Four of the teammates are members of Baptist churches and they, along with their parents, said the experience was both an exciting and inspirational one.
The girls’ team was made up of 12 all-star players from the Hueytown softball park’s Angels league (girls age 9 to 11 years old). Following regular league play, the selected players practiced for two weeks and then began competition in different levels of the Dixie tournaments.
They began by winning the district competition held in Thorsby; they went undefeated and were never scored upon by their opponents.
In state competition, they again went undefeated in five games. After a 12–0 victory in the championship game, they won the state title over seven other district-winning teams.
They then traveled to the World Series, where they played against 11 other Southeast states. They won the runner-up trophy at the tournament, losing only to South Carolina.
Players Tanner Brown, Morgan Carden, Madison DeLuca and Kelsie Harter said the experience was one they will always remember.
Friendly camaraderie
Not surprisingly, the girls seemed most excited about the fact that they traveled away from home for the competitions.
“I liked getting to stay in the hotels, swimming in the pools and spending time with all of my friends,” said Brown, a member of Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, Hueytown. “It was also really neat to be playing against so many other states.”
The friendly camaraderie that developed among the team’s players, as well as the friendliness with other teams, was an important element of the tournaments for all of the girls.
According to Harter, a member of Brooklane Baptist Church Hueytown, it was especially enjoyable to get to talk with girls from other teams.
The girls also found excitement in the level of their play — doing their best as softball players and as a team was the goal of the games, after all.
Carden, a member of Concord Baptist Church, Bessemer, said, “I had a grand slam in a game during the district tournament.”
DeLuca, a member of Union Hill Baptist Church, Concord, said she was proud of both the offensive and defensive plays she made, but was especially excited that she got to pitch.
The parents of each girl said they also had a wonderful time watching their daughters compete at this high level, even if it took their entire summer away.
It was better, in fact, than any summer vacation could have been, they added.
As Christian parents, they said it is oftentimes a challenge to be a Christlike example amid pressure situations and competitive individuals.
The negative attitude of sideline fans and parents — even themselves — is sometimes a hard one to counter.
“Sometimes you say things you don’t want to say or get too caught up in winning,” Leigh Brown said. “But you have to teach your children what’s really important.”
Karen DeLuca said she remembered the way she felt after their first loss. Although she was understandably disappointed, she told herself that there is always a reason for things happening.
“God’s hand is even in the losing,” she said. “Maybe it was His will, so that we could learn something from it.”
Teaching children how to be a witness to their faith on the playing field is a valuable lesson that they must be taught, the parents agreed.
All of the parents said they talk to their children about the positive attitudes of sportsmanship, kindness and control that they should show on and off the field. They also spend time teaching the value of both winning and losing.
Ty Harter, who also works as a basketball, volleyball and football coach at Brooklane Baptist Academy in Hueytown, said young athletes should always be taught priorities in their play.
‘Christian example’
“Did you have fun? Did you give it all of your effort? That’s what I always ask Kelsie,” Ty Harter said. “Those are the things that are important.”
Athletes need to be taught the value of losing as well as winning, he said. “Even if you end up the loser, you need to do it with the right attitude.”
Matt Carden said he was especially struck during the tournament by the Christian example set by others around him. The very visible faith of the Louisiana team was especially meaningful, he said.
“After each game, a girl from their team would go out on the field and draw three crosses in the ground, then all of the girls would touch them,” he said. “They were reminding themselves and telling everyone else what was really important.”
The Louisiana team, he said, also prayed before every game and their coaches and players showed great sportsmanship.
“I got to know some of the girls and coaches on that team, and they were just a great group,” Carden said.
Lori Carden said seeing that team’s witness was just one way they felt God’s presence with them.
“Everywhere we went we saw evidence of Christ,” she said. “It was really nice.”
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