Why Little Girls in Tutus Make the Best Baseball Players

Samantha is definitely not one for group participation.  So when the Vice Principal of her school invited her to join her Challenger Baseball team, located in another town about 45 minutes away, we were sceptical.  Not only would we be travelling a distance when there were other, more local Challenger leagues, but we were running the risk of Samantha's magical ability to completely. shut. down. when faced with an activity that involves doing something organized as part of a group. 

Social butterfly, you know, the one that can work a room with her eyes closed, instantly becomes pouty, spaghetti-armed, recluse.  I just don't get it. 

But we love and trust her Vice Principal, so we thought, whattheheck, let's give it a go.  Maybe she can learn to love group activity.  I mean, she's been doing better and better in groups at school, so why not seize the opportunity?!

I know people will say, well, if you talk to her about it in advance/let her practice/some-other-well-meaning-advice-we've-all-heard-before, will she be better with it?  Eh, maybe, but not necessarily. 

But with her first league game coming up on Sunday, practice we did.   

Beautiful day + beautiful girl + child who actually wanted to wear a tutu (she rarely wants to put one on) = photo op.  Of course!  And, like any enthusiastic and delusional mommy, I was sure the presence of the tutu would help my blog her game.

On Saturday I dusted wiped mud off the t-ball set we got her for her birthday last year and had promptly deposited and forgotten about on the basement patio, and set it up in the side yard, where there's plenty of space.

And she loved it.  We were out there for an hour or so, hitting the ball over and over, doling out high fives like they were the jackpot from a slot machine. 

(By the way, enjoy these pics of mini-Rapunzel's loooong braids while you can...we're getting them chopped on Saturday!  Stay tuned...)

I think the kid's got pretty good form - heeeeey, maybe there's a future for her in this...

Got it!  (Next step:  getting her to use the top of the bat to hit the ball)

Ohhhh, I missed!!  (actually, I have no idea what this face was for, but I like it!)

And this face?  Perfection.