So much for the up-trend

As noted last week, Darby's softball team had been showing good improvement, and it seemed to continue today as they started the game batting first. The lead-off batter singled, followed by Darby, the #2 batter, who hit an RBI double (though she was nearly thrown out at second because she paused at first, contrary to the advise of the base coach). I believe it was the earliest they've ever scored in a game.

But this success was followed by three quick outs, and it was all downhill from there. The girls were run-ruled every inning, and didn't do much more hitting or scoring. Their fielding was all over the place, too (though there were a few bright spots), presumably due in part to a couple of missing players.

Darby was benched in the bottom of the first, not punitively, but because there are more than nine players on the team, and they rotate who sits out (but everyone gets to bat). To the coach's credit, this was the first time in all the games so far that Darby has sat on the bench, though I must admit it was frustrating given what was happening on the field.

But my frustration was quelled somewhat by the fact that Darby didn't do all that great in the field today either (compared to how she had been doing). She played pitcher when she was put back on the field, and on three occasions she threw the ball somewhere other than where her coach had told her to throw it, creating a missed put-out each time, and subsequently allowing extra runs to score, not that we were really in the game at that point.


I have to admit I had a bad feeling about the evening when I arrived at the school and Darby was not changed into her uniform as I had asked of her. She knew we had an early game today, and very little time to eat and otherwise get ready from the time I would be picking her up. That, in addition to her stuff being generally not together and ready to take, caused us to have to go to the game first and eat afterwards, instead of having a quick meal before hand.


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Tomorrow should be... interesting. If not worse.

It's picture day. And chapel day. And PE day for Darby. I've always hated that combination. So we're going to fix her hair, she'll run around in the gym thereby messing up her hair, and then she'll take pictures? Ugh.

And, of course, Darby has another early game after school, so she'll have to change for a third time, which will create the potential for lost clothing (she has already lost a pair of shoes that way this year). Plus... she wants a classmate of hers to go watch the game with us, which could create imbalance in the planning (not that she shouldn't go, just not sure of the details yet).

And then there's the fact that Shelby has fencing after school (at the exact same time as Darby's game). This is something her mom has been taking car of, but her mom flew to Houston this morning. So her step-father will be taking care of it, which is fine, but again could add uncertainty to the planning.