HOT, HOT, HOT 🔥 is the only way to describe the weather today here in Shenandoah County. The Express players have started to arrive here at the First Bank Ballpark ahead of the 6pm First Pitch.
Tough to even find shade today but it is what it is. It would appear that the weather is here for a few days.
This one could be all about endurance…
Happy Birthday 🎂 to Chris Graham is in the notes 📝.
Motivated by the Ceremonial First Pitch Fastball from Chris Carter, the Express hung a six spot on the Turks !
Middle of the second inning, Express leading 6-2, tempature should be dropping soon, right ?
Through an odd combination of events I will once again have a Sunday afternoon void later today as I will miss out on spending time with Vickey Ritchie and her Special Olympics Basketball family.
Week one of the stretch had us at the Carroll Wellness Center for a swimming 🏊♂️ afternoon, courtesy of Shannon Dalton and members of the Swim team.
Week 2 & 3 didn’t take place as some work was being done at the Gymnasium we use.
Now week 4 has me up I-81 and it be the last time to help Vickey before we head out Friday. Just odd that it played out in that manner.
There have been a decent amount of teams that I’ve spent time around while in Carroll County and each one is completely different but there’s only one Vickey Ritchie.
Maybe its the fact that both Vickey and I are chasing the exact same thing, INCLUSION. Maybe its the fact that the Gymnasium is full of smiling faces and the reason why they are smiling is the entire process is designed for Joy and feel good.
Still my favorite pic of Vickey Ritchie and for a number of reasons. First, I’m a Big Fan of the Lady on the left, her Friend and Neighbor, Brandi Cochran- Mitchell. Second, Vickey has an ability to act with her face !
Here’s hoping that the practice 🙏 goes great today and know that I will be thinking about it from a distance 😊.
Thank You Ma’am, for everything that you do and for the manner in which you do it !
Another layer to the story, ” Diamonds 💎 are a Girls Best Friend ” comes in the form of there being a Wedding 💒 taking place later in the day back in Carroll County. The Nester family and the Goins family were set to become one large family 👪 that evening.
Adam and Kayla just celebrated their 10th anniversary and are the proud parents of three beautiful children. Both parents are involved with Coaching on The Hill and Adam just finished winning his initial Three Rivers District crown 👑 with his Junior Varsity Baseball team.
Kayla Nester is about to add Volleyball to her responsibilities with Basketball and we need to mention that little Sister, Raylee Goins is a current member of the Lady Cavaliers Softball program.
Part of the story has to be the time from the final out was recorded until Adam & Kayla said I do as Coach Nester worked his way back home in time for the ceremony.
Where are they now, ten years later, will be included with anyone who is interested in joining the conversation.
Nancy Sorrels while once again be involved with the book 📖 making process and this is exciting news for us. Her group up in Raphine were an absolute delight to work with. This will be the fourth time that we have taken a story from a High School and expanded it but its the first time that it will involve two Schools in the same story.
The first three efforts
Page County High School captured its seventh State Championship game that day in 2015, with six of them belonging to Coach Knight. Carroll County captured the first Crown 👑 in the history of the School that opened back in 1969.
If you are just joining us on this project, we will spend the next few months gathering all of the information we can and then create a time-line that will walk people through the entire 40+ year relationship with the game of Softball.
Cool Hat that Big Daddy is wearing there alongside Coach Knight!
A.S.P.N on The Hill 