19/03/2024
The LLG Shute Squad kicked off the 2024 season this weekend down in Spartanburg at the USA Softball 14O National Qualifier. In retrospect, maybe a national qualifier was not the best choice for the first game, first tournament, of an entirely brand new team but actually that is the reason this team exists in the first place. All these girls were looking to step up and challenge themselves as athletes, against the best competition, so that they could become the best versions of themselves.
Well the good news is we found that competition, the bad news was that we got them right out of the gates in pool play. Getting two A teams and the early start was not how I had envision this getting started but its the way she goes sometimes. The girls were ready to play but had not seen game tempo as a team all winter and we got caught on our heels against 2 teams you can't slip up against.
Taking 2 Ls in pool, these girls could have just mailed it in and gone home to enjoy the rest of their Saturday. Instead they came out on a mission and proceeded to win their first bracket game and then go on to knock off the 1 seed with an 8-0 shutout. This gave us another crack at one of the teams that beat us in pool. This would be our 5th game of the day, 4 back to back, and while we ended up losing we played them way closer, even with the tank running on empty they gutted it out till the end.
The only 2 teams we lost to ended up playing for the championship finishing 1 and 2 for the tournament, LLG Shute......well we came in 3rd....in our first tournament.....in a national qualifier! To say I am proud of these kids is and understatement. This is why I love this game! If these girls apply that resilience and never quit attitude into all aspects of their lives there will be nothing they can't accomplish.
Things happen for a reason, and the series of events that allowed this group to find each other and form this team were difficult for a myriad of reasons but to see how fast these girls have gelled shows we have something special. Can't wait to get back out on the dirt with these amazing ladies!!!!!
