My Girls

One down, Five more to go. This past weekend in the great state of Alabama, the first of my lifelong teammates said her "I do" and got herself married. The six of us girls started playing on the same team when we were 10 years old. We stayed together every since that team and we made history in Alabama and won a National Championship together. We were always referred to as "The Core." Nothing could have broken us apart. People were dying to get their daughters on our team because of the reputation that we had built for ourselves. We won pretty much every title there was to win in the state and the region. Those summers were some of the best times of my life.

We would always play against one another in high school ball, always trying to out-do one another, but somehow helping each other out in the process. And once one of our teams won the high school state championship in softball, we would meet that following week to start practice for summer/travel ball. I had always heard about the bond a team makes with each other and the bond that we made with one another is unbreakable. We would always joke as to who would be the first to get married and, sure enough, the time is upon us.

Annie Ski, the greatest second baseman a shortstop could ask for, tied the knot Saturday evening. Teams referred to us as quite possibly the greatest middle infield ever seen in the state of Alabama. Hobie and Micky, 1st and 3rd base, respectively, rounded out our infield as the greatest corners on a softball diamond and Tanner could count the number of people who stole on her with one hand. Of course, J.B. was our All-American centerfielder with a cannon attached to her left arm. And, finally, Boo, yours truly, was the shortstop. The six of us made names for ourselves through one another and the core team that we developed the day we all met each other at the mere age of 10 will never be rivaled.

I guess the reason I talk about those days so much and the reason why I'm so proud is because of what I learned during those years. I learned everything there was to know about friendship and honesty and loyalty. I learned about myself and what I could accomplish and the potential that I had. Without those summers with my teammates and all the tournaments that we traveled to and dominated, I wouldn't be the person I am today.

As for the wedding, it was spectacular. Dancing, drinking, and singing with all of those old friends and teammates and catching up on everyone's lives made the night incredible. As for my six teammates (minus Micky because she was in California for work), see below:



Best wishes and congratulations, Annie.

And if you're wondering who's next........ well, that would be that shortstop I was talking about and may God help us all one year from now when the greatest throwdown in the history of weddings happens. Yes, Boo is getting married to her best friend and the love of her life.

Let the countdown begin.