I’m just going to lead with the spoiler: the New Mexico
State Aggies won the WAC Softball Championship!
I’m removing the suspense here for two reasons. One, the real story isn’t the destination,
but rather the journey. Two, and more
practically, my notes and scorekeeping on Championship Saturday were
terrible. Weather conditions were not
conducive to writing on loose papers, and I had trouble processing the events I
was witnessing.
But, let’s start with the first days of the tournament. I was not able to attend, owing to work
obligations. (Keep in mind, I’d already
taken off two days last month for baseball games [4-4 and 4-19].) Ron bought a full tournament pass. I’d meant to get such a pass last year when the volleyball tournament was here. Instead, Ron made me stay at work to do an
upgrade that week on a computer system that he then out-sourced this year. But I’m not bitter. Given that he lost his job right after that,
it’s hard to get too angry. At least
he’s gotten to spend more time with his granddaughters and has been able to
attend events like this.
5-11-17
The WAC digital network was supposed to be broadcasting this
over the Internet. Perhaps they were for
other people, but not for me. I never
got any video off their website. I
followed along on Statcast, which, much like Gameday, is really nerve-wracking
to watch. In their first game versus CSU-Bakersfield, the Aggies went down
1-2 early. In the sixth, NMSU managed to
tie it and take the lead. With the bases
loaded, Kelsey Horton came to
bat. She’d been 0-3 for that day and, no
doubt, came up to bat angry. Of course,
what happened next was a grand slam home run.
I wondered if she’d see another strike for the rest of the
tournament. Aggies won 7-2.
On the team Twitter feed I noticed pictures from the
pre-tournament dinner. The girls clean
up nice in evening wear. I think they
were in the club area at Aggie Memorial Stadium. Kelsey won the Player of the Year award. Freshman Nikki
Butler won Rookie of the Year. Earlier
in the week, pitcher Kayla Green won
Pitcher of the Week honors for her clutch save at the Florida-Atlantic game the
week before.
5-12-17
The Aggies lost in their afternoon game 4-6, against Seattle U.
Bringing up the Aggie game later, I caught the end of the UMKC Roo’s versus the Bakersfield Roadrunners. I did a double take on the score. The Roo’s won 20-10. Ron later told me that it was run-ruled in
the fifth after an endless inning. The
Aggies faced the Roo’s immediately afterward.
The final score was 15-3 Aggies, but more importantly, the Aggies would
be in the championship. Kelsey hit a
two-run homer in the game. This girl is
unstoppable!
When I saw Ron on Saturday, I noticed a bright, yellow softball
in the back seat of his car. “Where’d
that come from?” I asked. Ron told me
he’d gotten the other day, but sort of had to pay for it. It was a practice ball that got fouled into
the parking lot. It bounced and hit his
car, putting a dent in it. Since it
wasn’t a game ball, Ron went ahead and kept it.
He confirmed that the WAC gave out little wooden bats to kids on the
first day (unfortunately they weren’t selling them). Ron’s nemesis, the old man, had been there
for the games with a big sign. Sometimes
he accidently held it upside down to Ron’s amusement. Ron was sore and tired from being out at the
ballpark for last two days, but still eager to see the Aggie girls playing for
the championship.
We’ve set the stage and told you how it’s going to end, but
you’re not prepared for what’s about to happen.
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