2A Fastpitch Softball State Tournament 2026

The Deer Park Stags fast pitch softball team qualified for the 2A state tournament.  I am looking from the outside in but what I see is a team that truly works together, loves softball and they really care about each other.  So fun to watch! I say that all the time, fun to watch. Mike and I took off early Friday morning to get to the team's first game.  After all the pictures I have taken I learned something new.  I put the camera on repeat and it keeps taking pictures as long as I hold the button down.  When Lucy does something great, which she does a lot, I want to see exactly what she did so I take the my finger off the button.  That's OK but sometimes I miss capturing a sequence of what she was doing.  

This field was a bit challenging for pictures in some ways.  I kept trying from different places.  I went to  the opposing team's side for some pictures.  I didn't like that.  They probably didn't either when I said GO LUCY! I got a couple of looks. 

This is one where I missed the whole sequence.  You can see the ball in the lower right corner. 

She got the ball and threw it.

A bit blurry but this was the celebration for a successful throw that resulted in an out.  

Lucy had a lot of hits.  This was one.  

The supporters!

Love this picture.  Lucy had 2 successful bunts for singles.  Off she goes. 

The ball was in the glove but it was too late. Lucy was safe at first!!! Impressive. 

Scooping up the ball!

Getting ready to make the throw. 

The throw!

Another out!

I missed the sequence here too.  

I got Lucy fielding the ball and missed the throw.  This was right after that throw.  She made some amazing plays all throughout the tournament.  

Kristin got a great video of Lucy's longest home run!  Click on the link below to watch it. (Lucy's Crushed Home Run).  The ball goes a long way. It hits the roof a building behind the field after it goes over the fence.  We are all in awe!

Lucy's Crushed Home Run

I got pictures of Lucy's swing after the ball was launched. 

And her trip around the bases. 

Love this.  Lucy has a big smile. I am not sure what she is looking at, maybe the ball being crushed over the fence.  It was CRUSHED! 

Lucy hit 4 home runs in three games.  Her total for the entire season is 24 home runs. WOW!

I was taking pictures and Kristin asked if I got the ball.  I thought she wanted to know if I caught a picture of one of Lucy's home runs.  Nope! She wanted the actual ball.  They haven't been saving the balls from home runs but the state tournament was different. Those needed to be saved for sure. We found it under a car. 

Kristin's home run poses.  

They didn't go all the way and that didn't matter at all.  It was truly a fabulous experience seeing the Lady Stags come together to play softball.  It is a special team.  They help each other and encourage each other. Lucy was so good!  Her defense was above and beyond what anyone would expect.  One of the players on the Deer Park got injured during the game.  A player from the other team slid into her her with her metal cleats.  It cut her leg open and she went off the hospital for lots of stitches.  On Saturday morning we went to breakfast at the hotel. We met two parents from the team Deer Park was playing and they saw the injury.  Our player was taken to the hospital. She will be fine thankfully.  The parents gave the Deer Park team a great complement. The dad said he sort of expected retribution of some sort. No verbal comments or shenanigans on the field.  His words. There was nothing.  He was impressed. They truly are a special group!!!  

Birthday #73 Celebration

What a special day in so many ways.  An unexpected blessing. Mike and I decided to take a trail ride on my birthday to practice for the 2 hour trail ride we would be taking in Alaska.  I was a bit nervous about this whole thing.  Could I get on the horse, how would my fusion in my back react, what would it be like to ride for an hour? 

Our guide was Emily.  She was so good and so helpful. She answered every one of Mike's questions about the horses.  There were a lot of questions.  

Still asking questions. 

Meet Henry.  I wanted an easy horse and I got one.  Although, I think they are all pretty easy to ride.  

Emily was a great help and very friendly. 

I was no longer concerned about getting on the horse.  The steps that were provided helped a lot. My back did just fine too.  

My guitar teacher recommended the PNW Guided Trail rides to me.  He said that he knew the owners and they were great.  As we were getting ready to ride Emily got a phone call from one of the owners, Brook.  Brook told Emily that I was her 5th grade teacher.  She wasn't able to come say hi. That will happen in the future.  When I got home I was surprised with a precious email from Brook that touched my heart. She talked about her appreciation for me when she was in my class. It was such a special email.  You don't always know as a teacher how you have impacted your students.  I can't wait to see her again.  We will take another trail ride and Brook assured me she would be our guide. 

Mike is getting all ready.

I love this picture.  Emily told us Mike's horse liked to snack along the way and boy did she.  Henry was a slower horse.  

Off we go!

So beautiful. Nothing better then spending time in God's creation. The Spokane River. 

I didn't have to worry about Henry being slow because Mike's horse stopped often for a grass snack.  Henry was able to get a grass snack on the move.  

More snacks. 

Look at Mike's horse.  A mouth full of grass! It wasn't a problem at all.  Mike got her going again each time. 

We are all done and loved every minute.  Can't wait to come back and practice for our Alaska trail ride again.  Oh, another great thing.  After my ruptured brain aneurysm in 2012 most of my allergies disappeared.  I am still allergic to cats and horses. The allergy medicine worked, no problem at all with horse allergy.  

If you want to take a trail ride this is the place to go! PNW Guided Trail Rides.  Check them out on Facebook.  

This was a special day.  We had a great ride at a very special place. I am looking forward to seeing Brook again.  Who knew that the place my guitar teacher suggested for trail rides would be a reunion with teacher and student.  I can't wait for that to happen.  Thank you God!