Spreading the Word

Clare went to South Bend early in the week to run a high school softball camp.  The all-time homerun hitter spent 2-1/2 hours teaching the elements of…defense.  Go figure.

This had to be pure torture.  Clare willed herself into becoming a very good high school second baseman and an even better college right fielder, but defense was always work.  The pleasure my daughter derived from softball always involved hitting.  The girl who once sat in her bed swinging a new bat was now trying to demonstrate the value of good footwork on relays.  Again, go figure.

At the end of the session, Clare gathered everyone up to tell them about herself and, by extension, what they could expect playing softball into college.  “We’re not going to make millions of dollars in softball, so you have to be serious about your education.”  Irrespective of playing opportunities, the camp coach advised her charges to decide if they want to go big or go small, be one of twenty in a class or one of three hundred.

When she was finished, the homerun hitter drove back to Valpo, the praise of the sponsoring coach something she had to share with us.  We all want to hear that our work is “outstanding.”