I had to laugh out loud when I read her favorite memory.
It was pretty much a disaster.
Ironic that the following year she actually had to pitch in a varsity game and got the win.
So, we had senior night. It was a roller coaster of emotions leading up to it, but I think I did really well on the actual night. It was a fun way to send off our seniors, with family members throwing front toss to them one last time, as wonderful things were read about each of them. I don't know if Gracie was listening to everything we wrote about her as she was hitting, so here is the part that was asked of parents:
What is your favorite memory that you have of your
student-athlete playing softball?
It is
so hard to pick just one favorite memory of Gracie’s softball career. My favorite part about it has to be getting a
front row seat, watching her work with her dad for so long, so I will go with
my favorite picture of all time. Gracie
was in little league, probably about 8 years old. She had just hit a “triple” and/or made it to
third base. Her dad was coaching third
and there to greet her. I took a picture
of that moment, and the way she looked up at him smiling and how proud he was
of her was undeniable. That memory of a
little girl who was just beginning to love this sport, and wanting to make her
dad proud will never be forgotten. It
has come full circle to this moment, today on senior day, that will also be a
favorite memory: watching them finish
this chapter together.
This one
What is your student athlete planning to do after
graduation?
Gracie
will be graduating in December 2025 and will start her freshman year at
Mizzou. She will be majoring in
Elementary Education and playing with the Mizzou softball team.
Is there anything you would like to have read/said about
your student-athlete?
Gracie-
Your dad and I are so proud of all you have done and the
goals you have accomplished so far.
Softball is just one of the many attributes you have and we don’t want
you to ever forget you are so much more than your sport. Watching you grow into the young woman you
have become has been so fulfilling. You
are fierce, courageous, kind, inspiring, driven, loving, funny, encouraging,
and so many more things. You have stayed
true to yourself and are not afraid of your identity or standing for what you
believe. God has given you a gift and we
have enjoyed seeing you realize your abilities.
Stay humble and kind, and the best is yet to come. This journey has been amazing so far and we
can’t wait for the next chapter.
We had a real photographer on senior night, thank goodness. I forgot my phone at home, and I really didn't think to take pictures of a lot of stuff. He gets so many good ones, anyway.
Looks like a great swing, but ironically, this was a line-drive out to center field.
Here is the home-run swing of the night. She picked this ball almost off the ground.
Last at-bat on her home field was a homerun. The only thing that would have made the night better is a win against Blair Oaks. Things just didn't go our way.
She had one more plate appearance that resulted in her 42nd walk of the season.
She had another walk the next night at JCHS, so 43 walks this season. The state record is 45.
Such intensity.
More pics from Shawley Photography
Seniors on their night
Pre-game fun
Gracie and Brook's fat heads
Warm ups
Post-game
Last pics on SBC softball field
Another family pic
In the outfield by her jersey
With the grandparents
All of them.
One with Chase
I made red velvet cookies for the seniors on their night.
I think I have more pictures that I can add later. There was just so much going on this week with senior night and homecoming week. It was great and Nick made it fun with the senior swing off following the game. Each of the seniors took front toss from their family members. Yes, I got to throw a few to Gracie, but she took pitches from her dad for almost two minutes while they read her accolades.
So, rewind a week or so...Gracie had her visit with Mizzou softball with her 2026 recruiting class, which was very strange, kind of knowing that it probably would not end up being her recruiting class. Gracie just has a very unique situation. It was a fun weekend, though and we had a lot going on. Friday was a full day of Mizzou softball stuff. Weights, breakfast with the team, campus tour, lunch in the locker room, pictures for two hours, pre game tail gate, then finally the first fall softball game on Friday night.
Then on Saturday, Gracie had two SBC games in Eugene, Owen had a football game ( at least it was at home), then more recruiting weekend stuff - tailgate, and finally Mizzou homecoming game at 6:30pm. Nick and Owen joined Gracie and me after his 2:00 pm football game. Everyone was so exhausted by the end of the day. The Britton family left the Mizzou game at halftime.
While Gracie did her college visit with the softball program on Friday, Owen was at school, and then went to the cross country meet in Columbia. His friends came from Arkansas to race. The football game had been rescheduled for Saturday afternoon, so they had a free evening to hang out with their buddies. He watched Brian and Sean run their race.
Friday night race in Columbia
The Burns boys came back to run and had all of their Missouri friends there to cheer them on.
This year, Owen did not have to hobble around on crutches.
Gracie, Nick, and I were at the Mizzou softball game while this was going on.
Hanging out at Bonnots'
Such a great group of boys!
Owen's school picture
He is wearing the same shirt as last year.
It's a little snug this year.
JV game at Boonville
This was actually the Monday prior to Mizzou's homecoming and our weekend of craziness.
Owen and Knox
Mizzou Homecoming
What a crazy busy weekend. These pics are not in the right order, but cover about everything we did. Again, Gracie started early Friday morning with her "unofficial" visit with the 2026 recruiting class. A full day of going through all the things... Weights in the morning, breakfast, meeting with strength/conditioning, academics, nutrition, among other things. They went on a campus tour and found their way to the bookstore/Mizzou store and Buck's ice cream. Lunch was in the locker room then they did photos for about 2 hours. It seemed like it took forever. Here are some pics of their photo shoot.
Nick chilling in the throne.
We just got the official pictures back this week.
I'll add them to a different post.
Gracie was pulled by Coach Anderson. She is teaching her their system and Gracie showed me her notes that she took on her phone.
Talking more with the coach during the game.
2026 recruiting class at the Mizzou homecoming game
Earlier in the day we had a couple of high school games in Eugene.
Catching against Eugene
She thought about laying down the bunt.
She was just kidding.
Gracie and Nova's faces
Playing third
Very pretty sunrises
Things change so quickly in the fall.
Love the colors
And not even a week later, the sun was already coming up further south in the sky.
Last one.
Four years of homecoming.
I guess he had to make it official.
The TP.
Cheerleaders TP the football players' houses the night before the homecoming game.
We managed to get it cleaned up before it rained that morning.
Ruby is trying to figure out what is going on.
So, lots going on and we had the homecoming game, the dance, and we are nearing the end of the fall sports seasons. One more regular season game for softball, then districts. Two more regular season football games. I'll get some videos posted in the next one. It has been a crazy couple of weeks.
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