SOFTBALL PRAYER
Unknown

Lord, give me the strength to hit the ball
And if I do, don't let me fall
Help me pick the pitch that's right
Then let me knock it out of sight.

Then let me run with deer-like grace
Don't let me miss, but tag first base
Then on to second, stay with me, Lord,
Cause this one out, we can't afford.

Then let me zoom like a flying bird
Right down the line and on to third
Then let me slide with feet out-thrust
Across home plate in swishing dust,
But FIRST OF ALL, DEAR LORD, I PRAY
JUST TELL THE COACH TO LET ME PLAY!


HEY BLUE!!!
Unknown

Umps have a hard job, I really must say
They put up with a lot of stuff every day
There are coaches who yell, and players who curse
And how many times have you heard this verse?
"Coach, I'm warning you, you better not shout,
Or else I just might have to kick you right out!"

Then there were calls that could go either way,
And both of the coaches had a lot to say.
"Oh come on, Blue!  What are you, blind?
To say she was safe, you must have lost your mind!"
"Umpire!  Umpire!  How can you call that an out?
You better rethink that before I begin to shout!"

They put up with back talk from coaches and fans,
Especially those annoying ones who yell from the stands.
If the Ump gets a play one second too late,
All the regular phrases are yelled about a bad call that was made.
"Hey Ump, would like to borrow my glasses?"
"Didn't they teach you anything during the umpire classes?"

They get spit in their faces, and dirt on their shoes,
All because of a call that made one team lose.
So the next time an umpire makes a slightly unfair call,
Think about what they go through, would you go through it all?

"Don't play softball because you have a goal to get a scholarship for college, make sure your goal is to be the best you can be and see how far it takes you--you have to love the sport."--Dot Richardson

"A true champion is someone who wants to make a difference, who never gives up, and who gives everything she has no matter what the circumstances are.  A true champion works hard and never loses sight of her dreams."--Dot Richardson

I DIDN'T FALL OUT OF BED AND BECOME AN OLYMPIC CHAMPION. I WORKED HARD, I WAS DEDICATED, AND I REALLY WORKED TO PERFECT ALL ASPECTS OF MY GAME."
 --MICHELE SMITH ('96 USA OLYMPIC SOFTBALL GOLD MEDALIST)

"To play is in the mind. To win is in the heart." ---Jennifer McCombs

If you don't play fast-pitch, don't say you play softball.
By: Danny: Breakers Fast-Pitch Team

To win the game, you don't have to be the most athletic or talented. To win, you must have passion for the game, determination and complete faith in yourself and your team. -Unknown
 
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the bases you're trudging seem uphill.
When the hits are low and the errors are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh.
When the heat is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but you don't quit.
Success is failure turned inside out,
the silver tint of the clouds of doubt.
And you can never tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar.
So stick to the game when it is hardest hit,
It's when things go wrong that you must not quit.
 ~Author Unknown

"The minute you start talking about what you're going to do if you lose, you have lost." - George Shultz

Failing to prepare, is preparing to fail.~Author Unknown

A winner is a person who gets up one more time than they are knocked down. ~Author Unknown

I think the best moments are the times when every player is completely wrapped up in the game. When you don't even know who got the winning hit because it feels like the whole team hit it. That's what you play for - for special moments like that. -Jessica Mendoza

When the pitch came, I just kind of reacted, It was just a rush of emotions. I wanted to scream as soon as it went out. I wanted to live that moment forever. This is what we play for.- Jessica Mendoza

"I believe I'm one of the best pitchers in the world-I know I am as far as results go. But you can't live on your legacy. Every time I step on the mound I have to prove it." -Michelle Smith
 
Winners never quit, and quitters never win.-Unknown