land sharks

it's been a long rainy winter, but spring has finally arrived with it's traditional gift...

glorious sunshine that just makes you feel good all over.
now, i've been a fan of spring for a long time.
spring training. spring break. spring rolls. i love them all.
this year i have one more reason to love spring. rain started playing softball.

i love this shot kim took.

kim literally waited a half hour for the little dandelion seed to float away. it was not to be.

when i heard that the coach was letting the girls pick the team name i braced for the worst. would they be "the extreme unicorns", "the cuddle bears", "slytherin", or worse yet... the team who shall not be named (the dodgers). apologies to my friends in l.a. you know i love ya. (go Padres!)
as it turned out, the girls came through with perhaps the sweetest of all children's softball team names...
"THE SHARKS!"
these girls rule.

from top to bottom, left to right. isabelle, brooke, abby, lauren, mikayla, asia, and alexia.

rocking the infield.

i now invite you all to pull up a bucket and take a look at our 2008 home team SHARKS.

isabelle.

here's coach george droppin' some softball knowledge.

lauren. what a hitter.

alexia may just be the most fearless six year old i have ever seen.

kenzie charging.

abby taking it down town.

here's asia's big sister alicia she comes out and helps the girls with their pitching and fielding. she's an awesome person and player.

here's rain taking pointers from alicia.

kenzie may have just got hit in the shin but she's tough.

lauren. look at that intensity.
zoey backing up lauren on a fly ball, coach george has taught her well.

PRIIIIIIME!!!!!!!!!!!

see what i mean, no fear.

who thinks i'm awesome?! (...my writers are still on strike.)

after weeks of preparation, game day was upon us.
opening day 2008.
the girls finally got to put on their uniforms and play in front of the masses.
the infields were chalked.

the gear was broken in and ready to go.

rain, brooke, and alexia were...
laughing?!
having fun is what it's all about.

these girls didn't come to just play around. they came to win. their secret weapon... eye black. works every time.

asia throwing some heat.

lauren's got mad pitching skills.

rain got to pitch for a bit and actually struck out the last batter of the game. her first k. sweet.

inside the shark cage.

know the strike zone you must. know it not and fail you will young padawan.

secret weapon number 2... alexia's strike zone.

catchers rule!

at the end of the day it's all about teamwork, celebrating your accomplishments, learning from your mistakes, and of course, having snacks with your teammates. i love this game!