Update: Rachel's team did not win at state, but we are still so incredibly proud of the girls and their coaches! Thank you all so much for your comments! I know that Rachel loved reading them!
......Go Matthew's Ballgame??
(when Carter says "Rachel" it comes out "DRachel", thus the title of this post)
These are questions I have heard soooo many times this summer! Carter absolutely loves going to watch his big cousins play baseball (or football, or basketball)! And so do I!
This year Rachel played again on the 7-8 yr old softball team. The regular season ended a month or so ago, but this year Rachel was chosen to play on the All Star team for this area! Now, anyone who has ever played ball knows what a big honor this is!
I know that when I played softball (a long time ago!) the last night of the league tournament was always was such an exciting night! All the teams would gather on the field after the championship game for the trophy presentation. First the teams who placed 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in the league and in the tournament got their trophy, then the players who were chosen for the All Stars team were called from each team. It was such fun, and such a big deal to have your name called for that team! Then you practiced with your new teammates for a few weeks as you geared up for the district tournament. If you happened to be a good enough team and worked hard enough (and had a little good luck thrown in) to win the district, you got to go to the state tournament!
Well, on July 2, Rachel's All Star team won their district in one of the most exciting tournaments I've been to! They played 3 games to win and let me just tell you, they may only be 7 and 8 years old but these girls can play some softball! Every single game left me exhausted from the sheer excitement of it! (oh, and chasing Carter.....but big cousin Matthew helped tremendously in this area! Thanks again, Matthew!!)
Rachel and her All Star team will be traveling to Montgomery tomorrow to play in their first game of the state tournament! The girls (and their parents & coaches) have been working hard to raise money to pay for the trip! I am so excited for them! We won't be able to go that far to watch her play. Her Uncle Kyle has to work and I fear that I would never recover from a 4 hour (one way) car trip and an overnight stay with a 2 yr old and a 3 month old by myself!
So, would you please join me in wishing Rachel and her team the very best of luck this weekend?? I am praying that everyone has a safe trip there and back, and that each game is played with good sportsmanship and each player has a safe, FUN game! Oh,....and of course, that our team wins!! If they do win this state tournament, they would then go to Louisiana!
Rachel was my biggest prayer warrior when I was pregnant with Lilah. Even on the morning of my C Section she asked her parents and brother to have prayer for us with her before they got out of the car to go into the hospital! Lilah's middle name, Rae, was after Rachel (and my dad, and Kyle's grandfather) and I will never forget the look on her face when we told her that we were naming Lilah after her. She is such an amazing little girl, and we love her and her big brother Matthew, who just turned 10, so very much!!
So again, will you please join me in wishing Rachel and her team the very best of luck this weekend? I know there are alot of you who read but don't comment, but I'm asking you to comment this time! I'm gonna call Rachel later to tell her to read my blog and I'd love for her to have tons of well wishes in the comments to read! **Don't forget to leave your name so she knows who's wishing her good luck!**
Thanks! You guys are awesome!
Here are a few pics of the team from the district tournament!
and this one is from the day Lilah was born, Rachel peeking at her through the nursery!
I don't know if this was the first time Rachel held her or not ('cause I spent most of that day unconscious and don't remember much of anything!) but it's one of my favorites! They had gotten to the hospital around 5:30 AM, Lilah was born at 6:28 AM and this picture was taken at 12:55 PM. I know she had to be exhausted but she was determined to stay and hold her little namesake!
26 comments:
Best of Luck Rachel!
Good Luck Rachel! Have fun and show them what the girls from Sand Mountain are made of!
Love,
Shaunta, Greg, & Clayton
What a talented girl you are to be chosen as an All-Star. I always wanted to be picked.... Go Girl!!! Good luck and ENJOY IT!!!
Shannon (long time friend of your aunt)
WOW! Little Miss Talented!! Good Luck with the game!!
Go get'em Rachael and Sand Mtn. Stars. Good luck.
Holly
My dad used to tell me to "Hit Hard and Run Fast". I hope you have a great game Rachael. Good Luck!!!
RiLee #13
Good luck, Rachel and the Sand Mountain Stars. Bring the trophy back to Sand Mountain.
Good Luck Rachel! Hoping you and your team are victorious.
Jennifer Barrentine
GO Rachel!! Show them what Little Sand Mountain Girls are made of!!! Remember to work hard, try your best and keep your chin up win or loose!! These all-star games are teaching you lessons that will stay with you forever. We are thankful to have such a spiritual little warrior representing our area!!!! V-I-C-T-O-R-Y ( I can still hear your Aunt Deedra's open mouth singing that cheer from the dugout) Your Aunt Deedra was not only a good Catcher but a loud cheering little firecracker when her team was a bat!! Good Luck to you and all the girls on your team!!!! Love Aunt Deedra's Sister,
Crystal W.
good luck show them what kind of REDNECK your aunt deedra tought ya to be
Hey Rachel! Hit it on the ground, Make 'em bend down, Make 'em work real hard, in the dirt real hard!!! Best of Luck to you and your team! I always Loved softball and was acutally chosen for all stars one year! Me and the twins will be cheerin' for ya! Tell your mom to text when the game is over!!
Love ya,
Jenny Mann
Good luck!!!!
Go Rachel Go!!! Best of luck to all of you.
Wendy Lassetter
Good luck Rachel from Muscle Shoals, Alabama!!!
Have fun in the state capital!
Been busy with baby, but not too busy to say HAVE LOTS OF FUN AND HOPE YOU DO WELL RACHEL :)
Good luck Rachel, have a great time.
Love Connie S
Good luck my little twin! Bring home the big one! I love you and am prayin for you and your team! YAY RACH!!!!
What an honor!! Oh goodness, how neat to be chosen for ALL STARS! Good Luck Rachel!!! Hope your teams brings back a big trophy!! Have a safe and fun weekend!!
Hey everyone, this is Rachel's very proud mom. First of all I want to thank Deedra for writing this blog in honor of our little "All Star". She has worked hard for this as has all the girls on her team. Her team consist of girls from Ider, Macedonia, NSM, and Dutton and they have come together and bonded like you would not believe. Rachel's grandmother told her coach back during the regular season that he should just take the girls all the way to state and her we are.
I would also like to thank you for all your encouraging comments. Rachel wanted me to read them to her so it would be faster and even I could not read fast enough for her. If I paused to catch my breathe she would say "keep reading mama". She is very excited and you all have helped PUMP HER UP.
As Deedra has already said, please pray for safety and good sportsmanship.
Hope the next pictures posted will be of the state champs, but if not we can truly say it has been a blast and an experience we will never forget.
Thanks again,
Tammy
Hey Rach!
Girl, you know we'd love to see you play but sadly, we'll be at the beach. :)
Just know the whole McKay clan is cheering for you!!
Love you, kiddo!
Lisa
Hey Rach!!!!
Good luck and have fun!!!!
Love,
Brooke
Well we are softball/baseball/basketball,football grandparents. Rachel is our youngest grandchild and she is a joy to us just as the other three are. After I saw Rachel's Ider Gray team play a couple of games, I did say to Chris he could take them all the way to state. Sadly, not all the girls on that team could go to All Stars. I know and Chris knows they were all All Stars. The All Star team is a great team and win or lose at State, they are all winners. Rachel, Granddaddy and I will be there cheering you and your team on. We just hope you and Dakota don't play at the same time so that we can watch all your games and Dakota's games. (We are blessed to have two grandaughters play at the state tournment). You are a great little softball player and remember we love you and your team.
Thank you Deedra!
Grandmother and Granddaddy Ellis
Good luck to you and your team!! Bring home the gold!! We know you can do it!!
The Lea's!
Woo HOO!!!! I know these girls have worked hard (4 days a week of practice!) They deserve the crown. We will be cheering for you all from here. My neice, Kenzie, is also there and very excited to be playing with the Ider girls! Do your best! Love ya!
Good luck girls from Sand Mountain.
P. S. from Grandmother Ellis
I am sorry I missed stated the name of Rachel's Ider team. The team name was Ider Black not Ider Gray. Matthew, her brother, was on the Ider Gray Baseball Team. The Ider Black Softball Team was a great bunch of girls but sadly it wasn't possible for all of them to be on the All Star Team.
The All Star team did not win the trophy at State but they were winners in so many other ways. I am very proud of Rachel and her team mates. Softball games are alot like the days of our lives. Some days you win and some days you lose. Rachel, keep on trying and remember God loves you and so do we.
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