Arizona before Arizona

As has become tradition for us the last four or five years, the Saturday that the Women's College World Series is in town, we have a full day of softball fun. That held true this year as well, only we also got to see Arizona play this year, whereas in past years we always seemed to miss them. The interesting thing about that in this case, is that next week we'll BE in Arizona. And we'll probably visit the U of A campus, too.

Anyway, in the morning Darby participated in the free NCAA Youth Clinic, where she usually learns something every year and makes new friends.

After the clinic we grabbed some lunch and a quick nap before heading to softball practice. It was 95+ degrees out, but practice went for two hours regardless. During warm-ups the ladies decided it was better to do their crunches in the shade where it was more comfortable. Even though that shade was IN THE STREET. We tried to finish up early, but we took a LOT of water breaks (appropriately so), which slowed things down some.



Darby had to catch while the regular catcher was hitting. She found herself in the dirt a lot...



...so when she watered herself down to keep cool, that made for a bit of a mess.



Darby also started learning how to slap bunt. It didn't really go that well, but made contact finally!

After that brutal practice, we got some dinner AND dessert before heading to the WCWS. We got there just in time to see Florida get sent home after their second loss. And, of course, we got to watch Arizona stomp Hawaii 5-1. It was a fun game to watch.