Hello Fastpitch World.
This is my 35th year as a head softball coach. All have been at the same school. In those 35 years I've witnessed some remarkable performances and also some things that are a bit out of the ordinary.
How many of you can say that as you were coaching a high school secitonal final softball game you witnessed your father-in-law and best friend pass away just beyond the end of your bench. In front of about 500 people none-the-less. In 1999 that is exactly what happened when Poynette was playing North Fond du Lac at Waunakee. On that day, in such a traumatic atmosphere some remarkable people touched our family as well as me.
On Monday of this week, one or our Poynette players experienced a seizure in our bench area in the top of the third inning. It was an intense and very dramatic time. I had 23 young girls in that bench area with us. During the experience their faces gave away their emotions and their feelings for their comrade. They were stunned to say the least. In the end our player came around and because of what one senior said, they were able to regroup, bond together and finish the game. The outcome wasn't as imporant as what transpired there on Lodi's field Monday night. What was important was the empathy that every individual at the field demonstrated.
It was a learning experience for absolutley everyone.
The real hero of the day though was Lodi Head Coach Joel Betsinger. He too had to gather his players who witnessed the event as well. They were as shook up as the Poynette girls were.
When the umpire tried to restart the game before our team was ready, Joel intevened and said something like, "We'll give them all the time they need."
Afterall, his girls needed some time too.
But the story does not end there. Nope! Not even close.
On Thursday Poynette and Lodi were scheduled to travel to Wautoma to both play Wautoma and Nekoosa in a WIAA mandated conference cross over day between teams from the South Central Conference and the Capitol North Conference.
The two arch rival schools, Poynette and Lodi rode the same bus to Wautoma with Lodi stopping off at the high school in Poynette to pick up the Poynette entourage.
Once on the bus, the Lodi girls presented the Poynette player who had the seizure with notes hand written. One Lodi player wrote about understanding what the Poynette player must go through as she herself faces athletics and diabetes.
It was Joel Betsinger who seized a moment and left an imprint on our player and her family and ultimately Poynette colletively not to mention the Lodi people as well.. Joel's thoughfulness and leadership has allowed our team of young women to appreciate what they have more than they ever thought about.
Thanks Joel. You are the greatest! You are the state's Coach of the Year in my opinon. Wins and losses do not matter in this situation. Just thanks!
The longer one remains in this game, the more great people they come in contact with and meet.
Have a great weekend everyone!
Keep it Rising!
Bob
