Closure for High School Softball

Wins, losses; we all experience both, sometimes very close together. All in the same week... district championship win, then 5 days later state quarterfinal loss to end the season. Such a roller coaster and whirlwind of events. Our girls had a great season and accomplished the goals they set. District Champs and Conference Champs. First time in over a decade for Southern Boone Softball to achieve either. It's not that last loss against Cassville that gets to me. It's the finality of all of it. High School softball is done. Finished. Complete. Gracie said earlier this week that this is the first time she has been a student without the athlete part. But what a ride it has been...but there is so much more coming.

So excited after beating California to win Districts!

The highs of winning with your team.

Then, the last team huddle after the final out of the season.

The last moments in the dugout

This resonates with me always.

Getting to do what you love is a privilege that often has so many amazing reasons why we want to do it. Even with that love, there are always frustrations, disappointment, anxiety, and sadness. We just have to remember that these things are part of it, and if it wasn't important to us, we wouldn't feel the negative aspects so deeply when they happen. What a privilege to get to do the things you love doing.

Also, what a privilege to watch the people you love doing those things.

I feel blessed that we have these opportunities, even though there is always a risk; it is usually worth it.

Last game of regular season:

Osage: They pitched to her twice. She hit two home runs. They didn't pitch to her again.

Vince came to watch her play

Hugs from Brook's grandma after the game.

District Semi-Final Game

We had a bye first round because we were the #1 seed in our district. We played Boonville in the semi-final and they pitched to Gracie twice, but not before she picked up her 100th walk of her career. Not exactly the stat anyone sets goals for, but we try to celebrate instead of getting angry about coaches who won't pitch to her. She had a sac bunt, which was an accident and also a terrible call in my opinion, and a sac fly. We won that game in 5 innings.

Gracie has a state record for BBs in a single season with 52.

This also sets the Southern Boone record for both career (106) and single-season BBs.

District Championship

California hosted us for the district championship and they chose to not pitch to Gracie. Didn't matter, though. We beat them 4-1 anyway.

SBC 2025 District Champs!

Brook and Gracie with the district plaque.

Another fun team photo!

Drew and Gracie

Gracie and Nova

These three are special!

I just love them.

Happy grandparents

This makes my heart so happy!

Not a great picture, but wanted to post anyway.

Coach Wren has had a huge influence on Gracie's athletic career. Not necessarily in softball, but he showed her that she can do hard things in basketball. It was so fun to watch them work together when he was coaching. He is another type of coach that you want your athletes to play for.

I guess winning districts is a big deal

Both were interviewed after the game.

Proud moment

It feels so good to reach your goals.

We didn't linger long after the district win before going to watch Owen play football the same night.

We drove to Osage to watch Owen's last JV game.

Bentlage boys picture.

I don't think we got one last year because Owen and Rowan were both injured.

But this year it's just the 3: Knox, Owen, Kellen.

State Quarter-final Softball

We hosted the state quarterfinal on 10/25. Cassville drove over 3.5 hours to play us in a game that went so quickly. The pitching was amazing, the defense was solid, and the hitting on both sides was not. They just happened to have the hits that made the most difference; we lost 2-0. Gracie did get to see pitches, but walked twice and popped out in her only swing. I guess that's just the way it goes sometimes.

Starting lineup

Taking positions

Catching

Final huddle

Putting happy faces on for a picture.

That's not how I felt at all.

Void, Numb, Sad.

Yes, partly because of the loss, but mostly because it is all done. We have experienced numerous losses (more wins, though), but there will be no more losses or wins at Southern Boone. They had their lasts on the field together as the 2025 team.

I waited outside the dugout after the game and Nova was one of the first ones out. I will never ever forget that moment that lasted for more minutes than I expected. I gave her a huge hug trying to console her. Her only words paralyzed me for that moment. "I'll never get to play with Gracie again." Still makes me tear up. These girls are such good friends and have been there for each other since they met while they were playing little league before the LLWS. Chance brought them together, but they have remained the best of friends since then. The Porter family has been amazing support for the Britton family through a LOT! At least we still have a season of wrestling with Nova. :)

Beach trip from the LLWS 2021

Photoshoot @ LLWS

Media Day for SBC 2024

Nova and Gracie. There is a trend in their pose.

Brooklyn and the Center family leave another huge hole after this is said and done. I'll miss sitting by Kathy at games. She makes me laugh and not worry so much about the outcome. Brook's grandparents are also at EVERY game and they too, have been pretty big Gracie fans.

HRs for Gracie and Brookie.

One year together on Aces

Their signature chest bump.

I always tried to catch it in games, but my photography skills are not that good.

Boy, am I going to miss watching them play together.

They have also been a central focus for SBC softball since the LLWS.

That is the time when they met, as well, and Brook decided to spend the next 5 years at Southern Boone. From 8th grade to senior year.

They are the two seniors who started every varsity game since they were freshmen.

Every. Game. Together.

So we move on... 24 hours later, not feeling any better, I messaged the senior mom group chat to start the discussion of how to make our girls feel special at their banquet, which would happen in 48 hours. We did a pretty good job, I must say.

2025 Softball Banquet

Senior table

So many pictures!

I think we printed about 150 to have on display.

Gail's shots from her camera in the dugout came in clutch!

Awards table

Dining centerpieces - more pictures

Fun times with teammates

A different table of girls

I put this here for a reason.

The pink chicken is the focal point.

This is actually a "costume" Gracie wore for the theme night in the "Black Hole" which is the student section at football games. Grandma Deb took her shopping to help her out with the ensemble. The theme was pink, and the obnoxious chicken she's holding was pink and loud. Gracie left it with one of her friends at the football game, and that person found me and returned it to me. It came in so handy at the banquet, and Gracie looked at me like I was crazy when I brought it in.

The banquet was a little emotional for some of the parents (and coaches) this year, as it usually is. So I brought in the chicken noisemaker to cut through the sadness. It worked so well and provided laughs at many critical times during the evening. I gave it to Kathy (Brook's mom) to use as needed when sad emotions were taking over. When the coach (Nick) was giving recognition to the seniors for the last time, he even asked Kathy, as he was struggling to get through it, "Hey, can we get the chicken thing right now?" Laughs through the tears. We love(/hate) the pink chicken.

Signing the letters for the seniors

Brookie and Gracie

The Three Stooges

Gracie, Nova, and Brooklyn

Gracie and Brooklyn with the freshmen.

Award winners

I think this is my favorite certificate that Gracie has received.

"For setting a bunch of records at Southern Boone High School."

One of the assistant coaches puts together all of the certificates and media posts. He asked Nick if he should do a certificate for each of the records Gracie set. Nick said no, just think of something to say on one certificate. It got a smile out of us, and I think Gracie, too.

Instead, she was awarded with a softball for each of the records she set.

Nick didn't list all of them, but just handed her the box with each record written on a ball.