Feature Story: Only A Game

At the age of 14 I told my parents that I wanted to play softball. Naturally, my parents were skeptical at first about me playing. They didn’t want me to get stuck with some grouchy mean coach who was going to get upset when the team lost a game, or get upset with me since I was totally new to the sport of softball. Luckily for them I got put with the best coach I could have ever asked for. Coach Kevin Johnson was his name. He was a great guy. He would never pressure any of the players if the game didn’t go as planned. From the first practice Coach Kevin made all of the players feels comfortable and at home.

It was a cool brisk April day on the first day that I met Coach Kevin. I along with several other girls stood around the bench area waiting for him to show up. After waiting for some time, the Coach and his daughter arrived. He smiled kindly and introduced himself to us all and told us to call him Kevin; instead of the traditional Coach Johnson. He instructed each of us to get a partner and just toss the ball around for a while to warm up. Some of the girls on the team already knew each other from either school or having played on the same teams in years before. In my case, I didn’t know anybody; I was sort of a loner. Noticing that I was on my own, Kevin came over and offered to play catch with me and said than to join in with the other members of our team, just too sort of ease me in you know?

Sometimes first impressions can change. In my mind I wasn’t sure that this coach was legit, I mean, he could have just been acting all nice just because it was the first day and he might not have wanted to scare us off. I decided that I’d make my final option about him after a few more practices and mainly our first game. After about 3 more practices and 2 unsuccessful scrimmages, it was the evening of our first game. I don’t remember everything about that first game; basically I remember that Coach Kevin and the assistant Coach Mark were just helping us try to find spots in the field where we felt comfortable. It was sort of like our first game was just a test to see what positions each of us were most comfortable playing. I don’t completely remember the outcome of the game, I am pretty positive we were massively creamed. Alright, moment of truth, is he going to spas out at us?

Kevin took his hat off and wiped his brow and then smiled at us. He spoke calmly, with not even a hint of bitterness after losing. “Alright guys don’t worry about it. It was only the first game. We have a long season ahead of us and both Mark and I agree that we really do have great potential in this group, so let’s not let this lose get to us. Put your fists in and let’s say our team name on three. 1…2…3…” Wow, I thought to myself. This guy is actually legit. He’s not acting like a jerk over losing. Maybe I was wrong about this guy.

Well, really was wrong, I regret ever thinking that Kevin could have been the bad guy. In fact he was the exact opposite. The first season that I was placed under Coach Kevin’s wing trained me and improved me, and not only in the sport of softball. After a long season he never once snapped at us for losing. Losing was becoming as natural to us as breathing. I think our name should have been losing considering that season I believe we were lucky to win 2 games, one by forfeit of the lack of opposing players and the other by the other team not even showing up. Totally a great way to win right, but hey it was a win none the less.

No matter how bad we got creamed though, Kevin never barked at us. He would just always tell us we were a work in process. Well, he was right. At the final season tournament we placed forth out of 7 teams, meaning we actually did win more than one game. Kevin was so completely ecstatic with our accomplishment. All of his coaching, hard work and putting up with a bunch of teenage girls finally paid off. At the end of the game, he gave each of us a trophy and said that if we wanted to be on his team again the next season just to let him know. Another year with Coach Kevin; sign me up! Not only had he helped me get better in softball but he also taught me patients which was always something that was very difficult for me. I don’t know how he did it, but somehow he did.

A full year went by before I saw Kevin again. It took until the next season until the Kevin and most of the girls from the team were reunited. That year proved to be a tad more successful then the prier season. My second season with Coach Kevin was probably the hardest year for me. I was becoming more and more stressed out with my school work and other issues going on in my life that when it came to softball, I was always tense. The slightest little mistake would send me over the edge. I particularly remember one time during a game I just threw down my bat while I was warming up and started to just walk away. Kevin saw me leaving and was able to pull me aside to talk to me. He knew something was up and he did all he could to relax me. “I know that you have a lot going on in your life right now, and I know that not all of it is easy, but you know that I and my family will always be here for you, and that goes for the team as well. You are a very special young lady Heather, you have great potential. You’ve come so far in the past year with getting so much better. Your batting has improved and so has your skills in the outfield. We both know we can’t win every game, but you know; how hard we try is was really matters. It’s just a game; you don’t always have to win. And the same goes for life in too. You don’t always have to be the best, just be you. Heather, I promise you eventually that everything will work out”.

He was right. He really was. It was just a game; all of us were just here to have fun, not to just to win. Even though he was just my coach, he did get me some great advice that helped me get through that summer and even today. Life’s just a game, you can’t always win. All you can do is do the best to your potential and be yourself. That’s one thing that I learned that summer that I will never forget. The season actually turned out fairly well for us too. We ended that season with another 4th place finish, but with several more wins than the season before.

The summer of 2009 was the last and final year I was placed on a team with Coach Kevin. I played for V.A.A. (Valley Athletic Association) and for a coach to coach; he or she must have a daughter who is eligible to play. Kevin has two daughters, one who is a participant on a traveling fast pitch team while his other daughter, Ashley, was about to finish out her senior year. Ashley and I had been on the same team since I had started out, and we both knew that this year was going to be an emotional year towards the end of the season. And that is was. During the mid season tournament we had our greatest accomplishment yet which was medaling and placing in 3rd place. I’ve never seen Kevin so proud of us.

Following the 3rd place finish we went out and had the 3rd most wins among the other 7 teams and placed 4th yet again in the final season tournament. You know how most people say that guys never cry? Well…that’s not always true. Ashley, I and rest of the team knew that his was Kevin’s last time coaching for us. After all that he had done for us, he couldn’t just go unrewarded. We extended him with millions of thank you hugs and gifts for all of his hard work over the years. Though he might have try to cover up the tears with his black shades, and I am almost 100% sure that I saw two tears trickle down his face.

The 2010 season is going to begin soon. I know without a doubt that this year will not be the same without Kevin. I’m still close with his daughter Ashley. “It’s just not going to be the same” Ashley said, “I’ve played softball my whole life, and now it’s like that part of my life is gone. I know it has to be hard on my dad too. I know that my dad and I will still come to watch and cheer on the team, but still, it won’t be the same.” It’s going to be like playing in a whole new atmosphere. Kevin taught all of us so many important lessons, one that came be used on and off the field. “Never give up” “Step into your swing” and most importantly, “Always remember, it’s only a game”.