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The Alton Flames have been very fortunate to receive support from surrounding businesses and communities and we are very grateful for that support.  This past holiday season, we had the opportunity to give back to the community by serving as bell ringers for the Salvation Army.  We hope to make this an annual event! Checkout our 12U Teal web site for pictures of some of our girls ringing in the holiday season!

 

"The FastPitch Player"

At one time she looked cute as a button dressed in pink with ponytails.

She had tea parties with her stuffed animals and dolls and helped Mom bake cookies.

She has been, and will always be Daddy's and Mommy's little girl.

Today the fastpitch player still has the same little girl attributes.

The only difference is she looks cute in her sliders and shorts.

If she's wearing ribbons in her hair, they are the team colors.

She has become Mommy and Daddy's little hitter.

The fastpitch player is proud of how dirty she can get.

On a normal family dinner outing, she takes up to an hour primping to get ready, and she still feels somewhat self-conscious.

However, between tournament games she'll strut into any restaurant with a streak of dirt across her face, ratted sweaty hair, a dirt stained shirt, bloody knees, and brown socks (they used to be white) with sandals with a toe sticking out, and yell, "Let's eat!"

The fastpitch player typically has an extensive wardrobe.

She has several old uniforms, which she has outgrown, but has not discarded because, well, you never know.

She has several hundred tee shirts and boxer shorts from camps, leagues, and tournaments around the country.

When her parents say wear something nice, she wears stuff from regional or national events.

The fastpitch player needs to get a scholarship, because her parents are broke spending thousands of dollars paying for camps, batting lessons, pitching lessons, catching lessons, hotel rooms, out to eat between tournament games, league fees, equipment, etc., etc....

The fastpitch player is a fierce competitor.

She is willing to stand 40' away from a pitcher and take a pitch with a measured reaction time that even a major league baseball player would struggle to hit.

She might only be 5'3" and 100 pounds (soaking wet), but she'll dig in at 3rd or 1st, 25 feet away from the batter and challenge them to drive one down her throat.

The fastpitch player has more spirit than any other sport.

She'll go home hoarse from cheering and rooting her team on into the final innings.

She plays the sport for all the right reasons, she loves the game.

She could spend the weekend watching tv or out at the mall with all her non-sport friends, because all her sport friends are at a tournament somewhere, but she chooses to spend her weekend in the 100 degree heat, waiting to get in the game.

The fastpitch player is diligent and hard working. She knows the value of hard work.

She understands that you get out of something what you put in.

She is competitive and doesn't give up very easily.

She learns teamwork and spirit.

Most of all she learns to respect all, but fear none.

--Author Unknown--