6:52 – 91° degrees at 1st pitch
I tried to get a look see at the Softball Complex across the street
The problem with getting a great look was their security…
Casey and his crew hosted a great event last year and there’s no doubt that they will do it again !
Earlier today we wrote about the talk that Rick Nester had with Coach Mayo back in 2013 when it was time to decide whether or not to lead the Softball program.
” Yes i remember. I told him he would enjoy coaching girls in Carroll because they have a strong work ethic and would be willing to do what you ask them to.”
Thank You Coach Mayo 🙏 and I hope you had a great birthday 🎂!!
Fluvana, Woodgrove (Purcellville) and Charlottesville have a few things in common, including the fact that all three are a poke from The Hill.
Carroll County High School started their weekend trip by heading north to Fluvana County for the Regional Semi-final game. This contest is known by another name, Win and Your In as the two Semi-final winners 🏆 both advance to the State Tournament.
Coach Nester sent Sydney Nester to the circle and the freshman hurled another shutout against a talented team, playing on their own diamond 💎.
Already along way from Cavalier Park and playing the next day up in Purcellville at Woodgrove, the team loaded up the Bus and headed further North.
Coach Nester and his coaching staff were aware that the Regional final was playing with house money 💰. The group as a whole had predetermined that Gracie Davidson would pitch against Woodgrove in place of Nester. Winning the game would have given CCHS a shiny trophy 🏆 for the case back home but by this point the staff was all-in on the idea 💡 of winning the next trophy.
Davidson pitched an outstanding game as the #2 pitcher / second baseman limited the talented home team to just two runs. The problem was the Lady Cavaliers finished the day with just two hits.
Now, Nester just needed Woodgrove to win their State semifinal game and for his team to do the same.
In most cases the voting for All-Region wouldn’t make the radar but on Sunday in Hooville is when the Woodgrove Head Coach realized that while he sent his Horse 🐎 to the mound, Nester hadn’t.
Scouting back then wasn’t what it is now and the move was a mastermind bait and switch, giving the Lady Cavaliers a distinct advantage. But for the move to work, both teams needed to win their next game.
After the meeting, the Nester’s finally
returned to the village of Laurel Fork.
11 hours, 20 minutes suggested to cover the 611 miles. But the long weekend put the Lady Cavaliers on the brink of their initial State Championship.
Every parent that has raised children can attest to the fact that Sons and Daughters are as different as night and day. The same holds true when it comes to coaching Student Athletes in Middle School and High School 🏫.
Rick Nester was what we would call a Man’s Man¹ He raised his Sons that way, conducted his working that way and you can line up folks with a story about how Coach Nester made their lives miserable when he was their coach.
Naturally, the first time that his boss and friend, Principal Chuck Thompson asked him to cross the Boulevard and begin being a leader of Girls, he took it as a good natured bit of humor. Nester recalls the exchange taking place at Halftime of the weekly Varsity Football game.
It wasn’t until Mr Thompson asked a second time, a few days later, that Coach realized that he was being asked a legitimate question.
The initial conversation was with his lovely wife, Donna Nester. The next two talks came with long time Coaches, Howard Mayo and Marc Motley. The common thread there is both Hall of Fame coaches had made the transition themselves, from coaching Boys to coaching Girls. Both coaches gave glowing recommendations about their experience and that proved to be enough to make the decision easier….
A.S.P.N on The Hill 