It's a Wonderful Life

I just spent an amazing 4 days at the greatest show on earth: the NFCA (National Fast-pitch Coaches Association) Convention, which took place in San Antonio, Texas this year.

Though the JW Marriott property was probably one of the most impressive properties I have ever seen -and the speakers who presented on pitching were extremely knowledgeable, interesting, and helpful- in the spirit of the Christmas/Holiday Season, I would be remiss in withholding the most important thing I witnessed at convention to share with you all: Perseverance & Friendship.

And before I dive into these humbling characteristics and how they were embodied at convention, I want to assure my eager reading audience that I most certainly will pass along the pitching knowledge shared by these tremendous speakers in my subsequent blogs -and most importantly- at pitching school itself.

And you might be saying - I sure do like a good “feel good” story, Coach Abby - but what does Perseverance & Friendship have to do with me and pitching school? My answer to you is: Everything - should you allow it to be.

We will circle back around to this again in a moment.

Sharon Panske was this year’s recipient of the Donna Newberry Award, which is given to a person who has displayed incredible perseverance. Sharon, a former Head Coach of Wisconsin Oshkosh, is in the late stages of her battle with cancer, and has exhausted all of her options for treatment. Sharon and her lifetime friends, made through the sport of softball (most of them coaches at rival NCAA universities), are Sharon’s biggest support system (along with her sister) even now. They trekked to San Antonio from their respective homes in different parts of the country, all sporting their “Wild Bunch” shirts in support of Sharon. Most of these women are in their late 50s to late 70s and have been friends with one another for 30-40 years.

How did these life changing friendships form? Through relentless perseverance to the growth of our sport of softball. They served on several NFCA committees together, improved the competition level, and increased funding. These are some of our most important female pioneers who lead the way in growing interest in the sport. Sharon and her Wild Bunch did the “work” that has directly impacted you and me today. What a gift they have provided to us all.

And when people are passionate and invest fully in anything, friendships are formed through mutual interests and respect. What does the “Wild Bunch’s” friendship look like? They know each other’s spouses, children, pets, and extended families. They have vacationed together yearly. And most importantly - they’ve been there for each other during life’s most important/celebratory moments and the most trying moments as well. Their commitment to the sport of softball at such a high level created an unshakable bond that made each of their lives insurmountably better and more full.

I know that as I looked around at my cousin and all of our coaching friends (my network within this game who I have grown with over the last decade), I hoped that we would eventually be our own 30+ year “Wild Bunch” one day in the future.

And here is where your journey through pitching school comes in!

Unlike most pitchers who exclusively take lessons privately with a coach, you are creating a network of like-minded and like-actioned people every week at pitching school. You are all young ladies in pursuit of the same dream: to become highly successful pitchers, reaching your full potential. Will your perseverance to realize your dreams through continuous practice, struggles, and resilience be your connective bond? Will friendships be formed because pitching requires endless perseverance to be successful?

Oftentimes, only your pitching friends can empathize with your journey. Even when you're the best pitcher in your conference or area - you receive a piece of humble-pie from time to time. You have to decide to keep going in the face of a bad outing, an off day, or a heartbreaking loss. These unique challenges can be shared with a friend alongside you at a Practice-Pro pitching session. These “teammates” understand the struggle. They too are working through those moments where we all question if we have what it takes. But every day we show up, we choose to persevere. And at pitching school, you have the potential to meet friends who can become your lifelong teammates. I hope together, we are building a network of people like Sharon did - becoming champions for one another when we need it the most.

Next time we see each other at pitching school, I hope you decide to turn to your neighbor and ask her a question about her life, her holiday plans, or her favorite part of pitching school. You never know, that might be the spark that ignites a lifelong friendship.