Big-time women's fast-pitch softball

I was ALWAYS the last to be picked for the "team" when I was in elementary and middle school. No one wanted the skinny uncoordinated kid. So, I've never been fond of team sports. However, I do like baseball since my son played for so many years (and was quite good).
My friend Sherry came over to visit...she was here Thursday and Friday night. Sherry plays softball and lives for it. She had tickets for one of a three-game series between the University of Washington Huskies (go Dawgs!) vs. the UCLA Bruins Friday night. Cool I thought.
Sherry has the autographs of a couple other big-time softball ladies, but one of her "bucket list" wishes was to get the autograph of Lisa Fernandez, one of the coaches now for UCLA, but also a three-time Olympian known as "greatest of them all."
Sherry couldn't have picked a worse weekend weather-wise. A storm blew in Friday that was just awful. Windy as hell, and then when it rained it was sideways...cold, cold, cold. But we bundled up, got our $3 cups of coffee at the concession and settled in for game two Friday night. UCLA beat UW 1-0 the first night.
After all the warming up and introductions, I have to say my jaw dropped open when Danielle Lawrie, UW's pitcher, starting throwing those mothers! Holy crap! It sounded like a firecracker going off when the ball would hit the catcher's mitt. This chick can pitch - fast!!!! Sherry said she's a huge big deal....she's a senior this year, and UW are defending champions of the World Series of College Softball. I really dug her, too, because she's stunning, and had on a sparkly pink headband!
The pitcher for UCLA was awesome, too. It was interesting watching her wind up. She would point her left foot into the mound, then sort of dip her head, then come back up winding the ball and whale it at the batter. And she was just a tiny little thing! Sherry said they all have their own unique style.
So, I was getting into it. They are so damn good, it's hard for anyone to score. The first inning ended 0-0, and then the rain came back, so the "rain delay" sign came on. Out come the field gophers to cover things up, and we all ran for shelter in this huge building with an indoor track going around a huge indoor field for practicing pretty much anything.
So there we are, and over to our right is the entire UCLA team, including Sherry's idol, Lisa Fernandez. Sherry was so nervous, but hey, this was her chance. We slinked over there, and had to make our way through all of these amazing athletes (I'm thinking, please God, don't hit me), to get to Fernandez. She was extremely gracious, giving Sherry her autograph, and allowing me to photograph them together.
Sherry was on cloud 9. Then we look at the photo, and she looks mortified! It was awful...Lisa is smiling, and Sherry is looking horrified.
The rain lifts, back out we go. Second inning, no score, third inning, each team scores, damn exciting. Back comes the rain, and by now, I was starting to lose feeling in my fingers because my gloves got wet. I headed to my car to warm up, when Sherry ran after me, because they called another rain delay.
So, we're sitting in the car, and Sherry is super bummed with the photo. Meantime, people are streaming out of the stadium and leaving. Having sufficiently thawed, we went back into the big building to see what was going on.
UCLA was all huddled inside again, and having major discussions. It was still raining and cold. They decided to suspend play until the next day. Now with the pressure off Lisa Hernandez, she was posing for photos with other people, so we swooped in for the kill. I got two awesome pictures of Sherry with her, and I swear, she (Sherry) was the happiest woman on earth!
Too bad Sherry had to head out the next morning, because they picked up where they left off and Danielle Lawrie (pink headband) threw 9 1/2 scoreless innings to win 3-1 in the game that was continued and one that followed immediately, which UW also won 7-2!
So, I have a whole new appreciation for these women. They are an inspiration! And Sherry - she's an inspiration to me, too. I need to watch her play one of these days. All the players were amazing. When someone got what I thought was a killer hit (surely they'd run around all the bases), some out there in outfield caught the sucker! I told Sherry it would either a.) hit me in the head if I tried to catch it, or b.) I'd just duck! Yeah, no one is picking me for a team anytime soon!