With Jennie Finch announcing her retirement recently, I was taken aback. She and I are the same age and I still remember the first time I saw her at Nationals in 1994.  I remember watching Jennie grow as a player and as a person.

An athlete like Jennie Finch is hard to come by. The pure skill that she possessed early on, the drive she had to get better and the commitment she had to softball.  That is something you don't see in many athletes these days.  She has represented the USA and the game of softball with so much character, professionalism and class that she will truly be missed.  She will always be considered one of the best players in softball history.

This week I brought along the digital camera and took some photos from around the clubhouse and out on the road.  I've included a few of them in this post along with a little commentary to help explain each photo.

How exciting!  This was my first visit to Nashville.  It was pretty cool going through Cincinnati and coming into Nashville.  A week ago I was staring at the I-84E sign, now I'm staring at the I-440 sign choosing Memphis or Nashville as a destination.  The travel part of playing for the NPF is so cool!

Tournament softball season is upon us!  It's that time of year when you pack up your daughter (and maybe her friends) and hit the tournament circuit.  Being prepared for a long tournament drive is more than just about packing a lot of stuff into the trunk and jumping onto the nearest highway.  There's lots of preparation that needs to take place before you hit the road.

Playoff Wrap-Up

Well, my high school team made a great run at the 6A title this season. I am very proud of my kids and how they rallied together during the playoffs. It was an exciting time and the support we had from the parents, school staff and the community was amazing. We played two great games and despite losing to Grants Pass High School in the quarterfinals, we had a wonderful run.

When I think of the Ringor slogan, "Life is a Series of Left Turns^®" I can't help but smile, and reflect……

I immediately think about Ringor, then I relate that to softball, then I relate softball to the life experiences I have had as a kid, teenager, young adult and now as a professional player. Softball and life have so much in common that the left turns are inevitable but so rewarding in what you are learning about yourself.

 

Players, Parents and Coaches!  We want to hear from you!
 

Please take a few moments to complete our Softball Survey.  We want to learn about why you love softball, what drives you and what's important to you when selecting your gear.  Once you complete the survey, you'll be entered into our prize drawing for a chance to WIN great prizes!

Many times the coaches in charge of managing a softball team have so many things running through their heads that they're not always aware of all of their options.  They may not consider placing an order as a team, not because it's a bad idea, but maybe because they are just juggling too many things at once and haven't had time to think about it.  Sometimes a coach could just use a friendly discussion to get the ideas flowing.

You don't play the game for the individual awards, but because you love it.  You don't normally need accolades to feel good about your efforts when you leave it all on the field.  But sometimes……..awards sure feel good don't they?

You spent your precious time selecting which RINGOR shoe is right for you.  Then you spent your hard-earned dollars on a quality product.  This was followed by a little more time in waiting for them to be delivered.  How about a few tips on taking care of them?