It Happens, I Know

The Illinois High School Authority (IHSA), the governing body for high school sports in the state, is considering a rule to tighten up on transfers and associated coaching hires. It seems some basketball teams are the product of such transfers. Who knew? We saw as much in softball during Clare’s playing days. One D-I bound pitcher changed schools, not that it bothered my daughter; she hit that pitcher like she owned her. And, then, after Clare graduated and was playing for a travel team for one of her new college coaches, the head coach for the softball powerhouse in our conference came up to her and said, “You should’ve transferred to our district.” Clare underwent baptism by fire as a freshman starter. Was that a good thing? I don’t know, but I doubt she would’ve played as much for that other team as an underclassman. And I doubt she would’ve had the experience necessary to hit that team as well as she did (two doubles and a homerun in one game I remember in particular) as an upperclassman. In other words, I’m happy—and I think Clare was, too—that she spent all four years as a Morton Mustang. But these are different times, my friend, different times.