Enjoying college softball and spending time together

       Debbie and I were in Brooklyn the other day taking a little league team photo, which happened to be on the softball diamond.
      Before leaving, Debbie nudged me toward the pitcher’s mound, where she stood and reminisced about her days of youth.
      She played softball in middle school at Montezuma and often talks about the time the game was on the line.
       She got up to bat, hit the ball and then ran into the other team’s first baseman, who was blocking the bag. It must have been quite a collision as she ended up with skinned knees and elbows.
        “I wasn’t going to be denied,” she said.
        The coaches took Debbie out the game to patch her up, but her extra effort helped the Bravettes win.
        Her winning attitude, fighting spirit and passion for life are three of the many things I love about Debbie.
      And her love for the game of softball continues well into her adulthood. She and I are both fans of the game and the Oklahoma Sooners, who won the softball national championship in 2000, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
       We got to see the Sooners play two games in Lawrence, Kan. in late march and have seen them play a number of games at Iowa State University on four different trips to Cyclone nation.
       We also watched the Missouri Tigers a few years ago in a playoff game in Columbia. And we’ve watched four pro softball games in Chicago, Columbia and East Peoria, III.
       We have a trip to Norman and the new Love Field to watch the Sooners play on our bucket list and we also hope to attend the World Series of College Softball in Oklahoma City, someday.
        Hardly a weekend goes by from early February through the national championship in early June that our television doesn’t have a game on. And there are the midweek games. Debbie loves watching and analyzing all the games.
       And this past weekend (Friday, May 17 – Sunday, May 19), I would estimate that Debbie watched parts of 30 different games, including both games between OU and the Oregon Ducks.
      The Sooners won both games, 6-2 and 3-2 to advance to the super regionals against the Florida State Seminoles. The winner of the best of two games out of three will advance to the college world series.
        The Seminoles, who have struggled a bit this year, won it all in 2018.
        The Sooners also run-ruled  Cleveland State in the opening round of regional action.
       At one point in game two, the Sooners were up 2-0. I left the room and soon after the game was tied two all. I was encouraged by Debbie to find my way back to the living room to send good vibes to the Sooners.
        Sooner Magic, as it is called in Oklahoma, must have worked as they won the game.
      It doesn’t hurt that the Sooners are loaded with talent and when they are on their A game, they are unstoppable.
        Two teams that didn’t make the next round, but played lights out in the regionals, were the University of Omaha and Liberty University. Both of those teams should be on the softball radar to look out for next season.
       Other teams that have advanced to the super regionals to keep an eye on as the playoffs continue are Texas, Tennessee, Duke and Florida, who is playing much better of late. Alabama is usually always in the thick of things, but they don’t have as strong of a team this year. The Roll Tide Head Coach, Patrick Murphy, is an Iowa boy. Missouri and Arizona are two other teams on a roll and should give whoever they play a challenge.
        Outside of watching softball, there’s plenty of community events, parades, rodeos and the county fair on the horizon to keep me busy this summer.
        If you see me out and about, stop and say hello. I always enjoy visiting and talking about life.
        Have a great week and always remember that “Good Things are Happening,” every day.