The bats are swinging and the game is on television

      I love the story Debbie tells about playing softball for the Montezuma Bravettes during her eighth-grade year in junior high. The Bravettes were playing in a tournament for the now late Coach Denny Johnston.
    Debbie hit the ball and took off for first base and was not going to be denied. The first baseman was blocking the bag and Debbie said she collided with her and ended up with a bloody nose, elbows and knees.
    “They took me out of the game and the person they put in my place went on to score and help win the game for Montezuma,” Debbie said.
    Even though her softball career ended in high school, her love for the sport, especially the OU Sooners, continues to this day.
    And rightfully so. The Sooners are at the top of their game and are posed to win their school’s third straight national softball championship in 2023.
    OU has won six national championship in softball under head coach Patty Gasso since 2000, the first for the program. They won again in 2013, 2016, 2017, 2021 and 2022.
      Our dream is to attend the College World Series sometime down the road. 
     We had the opportunity to see the Sooners live in late March when they played in Ames. The ISU softball stadium was packed, mostly with Sooner fans who came from Nebraska, South Dakota, Illinois, Missouri and several other states. It was quite an experience and lots of fun. That was the fourth time we’ve seen them play at Iowa State University.
     With only one loss and a number one ranking all but one week during the 2023 regular season, the Sooners continue to march through the playoffs after winning the regular Big 12 season and overall Big 12 championship.
        OU run-ruled Hofstra and Missouri, my alum mater, and beat California, 16-3 in regional play to advance to the super regionals where they will take on Clemson Memorial Day weekend. They need one more game to tie and two more wins to break the 47-game win streak currently held by Arizona. The outcome is yet to be determined at the writing of this column.
      The winner advances to the College World Series at Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City. Action gets underway on Thursday, June 1.
      Heading into the Super Regionals, eight of the 16 teams have an OU influence through the coaching ranks.
Debbie enjoys reading the stories about Gasso, who has coached the Sooners for 27 years, and her Christ-centered influence on the team. It’s typical after a game or series to see the Sooner players gather with their opponents at the pitcher’s mound for prayer and fellowship. We need more of that in this world, especially in sports.
     “We’re excited every time we get to come out and play, because that’s another opportunity to just glorify God, have fun and enjoy each other,” said OU junior third baseman Alyssa Brito.
      I watch a lot of softball during the regular season, which gets underway in February and continues into the second week of June. Debbie loves it and sometimes talks about how fun it would be to have a job associated with the sport.
      She’s glued to the television and watches hours of softball. She will watch teams play that she doesn’t care for if that is all that is on. All that matters is the game, the defense, the offense, the homeruns, the strikes, the double plays and so much more.
      Even on her birthday in late May, regional softball action was on the television and I couldn’t have drug her out of the house for a date for anything.
       There is a lot of craziness in this world, so it’s nice to enjoy softball and spend time together. That was the best birthday gift, along with a few slices of cake.
       Have a great week and always remember that “Good Things are Happening,” every day and always.