07/11/2026
What an interesting week at Atlanta Legacy. As a coach, it's incredibly rewarding to watch a team come together and play to its potential. This week, I watched our girls play some of the best softball they've played all year, finishing 3-0 in pool play.
Unfortunately, we had one game rained out yesterday and another today. Bracket play was scheduled to begin at 2:40 p.m., but rain delayed everything. We were later told our game would start at 3:20.
As I walked the infield, it became very apparent that the field was still wet, slippery, and, in my opinion, unsafe to play on. Coach Lanier from Unity Lanier was also inspecting the field, and we shared the same concerns about the playing conditions.
I spoke with the tournament director and expressed my concerns. To the credit of the field crew at Sequoyah Park, they were working hard to improve the field with Diamond Dry. Coach Lanier and I were told they would give the field another 20 minutes to dry. After that, the game would begin, and if either team refused to play, both teams would be charged with a forfeit.
Before making our decision, we each had two pitchers test the mound. Every one of them agreed that it was not safe. When the tournament director asked if we were playing, Coach Lanier and I both agreed that player safety was more important than being forced to compete on a field we believed was unplayable.
In all my years of coaching, I can honestly say that was one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make. Looking 14 young ladies in the eye—girls who wanted nothing more than to compete—and telling them we were not playing was heartbreaking.
But one thing I will never do as a coach is jeopardize the safety of my players. Wins, losses, championships, and showcases will come and go. The health and well-being of these athletes will always come first.
Even if that means walking away from what is considered the premier showcase in the Southeast, I will stand by that decision every single time. No game is worth risking a young athlete's safety.
