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!!!  

Missile Site Snowshoeing Park

Sheila and I decided to try a new snowshoe trail.  The Missile Site Snowshoe Trail in Deer Park.  

As you can see there is a nice path for snowshoes.  That didn't last. It was a beautiful day.  Temperature was just right and it was mostly sunny. 

Sheila!

HMMM?  Where is the snowshoe path.  It is a lot harder to carve a path than to just go on one already established.  We did it though.  I would say the first mile we had a great snowshoe path.  After that we were on our own making our own path.  You are welcome for all of those that come after us.  

We had one other issue.  Horses had been on the snowshoe path.  That made for some uneven trail blazing. 

We did do a mile more than we had planned but that is how we roll.  We did 3.5 miles instead of 2.5.  We missed a turn.  

It was a great snowshoe adventure.  It is good to get outside and be active in the winter and to try something new.  We will be back.  

Well, here we are again.  The Pumpkin Pacer in Deer Park.  We had rain on the way to Deer Park and it was cold!  We headed right inside the church where the race started. No need to stay outside and freeze before we started.  Cold legs might mess with our time for the run.  HA!!!

We weren't the only ones who decided to stay warm for a short time before the race started.  Layne and the Deer Park Cross Country Team did stay outside and watch the little kids do their race.  That was nice of them for sure.  

So cute!

Many if not all of the people participating stayed inside until it was time to start.  Lots of fun costumes.

We waited until the last minute to line up.  Layne, in the orange, ran with her Deer Park Cross Country Team for a practice.  Her parents and sister were at a soccer game so Layne got to hang out with us after the race.  She finished in a little over 20 minutes.  She had to wait for us needless to say.

 Diligently stretching!

 Thing One and Thing Two!

 Kat and Sheila!

 Jackie and Kat!

 Layne told me number 171 is a teacher in Deer Park.  He is very disguised.  

Off we go and no rain so far but it had rained.  You can see the wet streets.  A couple of us didn't prepare for the rain.  Oh no!

Look a little sun peaking through the clouds.  We might survive this race with no rain!  That would be neat.

 Mile 1 done!  Boy, does this picture show the best of fall in the Pacific Northwest. Beautiful!  Sheila and Michelle look great too.

 Peggy at mile 1!

Love this house.  I think some day I will live in a house like this.  Don't get me wrong, I love the house I live in but I just feel there will be a change somewhere along the line.

 Go to church people.  It's good for you!  Learn about the best gift ever! God's love for us!

 Lots of leaves not attached to the trees.

 This store is a little ahead of the season!  They did throw out some pumpkins for good measure!

 Bonnie at the 2 mile mark.

On the home stretch. There weren't as many decorated houses to take pictures of this year.  Disappointing! 

 Approaching the finish line and we made it with no rain!!!

Finished!!!  We didn't pin our numbers on and no timing chip.  I had to dig my number out of my pocket to show them at the finish line.  Looks like Michelle did too.

One last picture of some pirates after the race, inside the church.

Layne went with us to get some lunch.  One minor detail, no room in the car for her.  She squished in between Sheila and me.  She said it was like doing a wall sit.  We had a yummy lunch and great conversation.  I look forward to the next time we all get together.  These friends are really good people!!!