Everything has a story, and our Cavalier Park is no exception. One should not read the word baggage in the wrong manner. Imagine you just landed at the airport on your trip, and you head down to the baggage area. One shouldn’t leave there without your bag….

This line of thinking will cover both #25 and #26 with the first one going to our Late Coach, Jeff Tobler.

The photo 📸 above is from the Fire Station here in New Bern, and while I’m not comparing Coach Tobes to 9/11 but the idea of always remembering what changed our lives.

As each year passes, the connection with our beloved coach ❤️,lessens . The Senior Class this year consists of Natalie Burress, Addie Greene, and Laynie-Jo Leonard. Each of these young ladies has next level ties to Tobes, but the challenge will be greater with the next group and even more the following season.

The awesome nicknames and the self titled ” Crazy Socks ” are part of our history and should remain that way going forward.

We lost Coach Tobes decades too soon, and the degree of the setback is as wide as the day is long. Tammy lost the love ❤️ of her life, father to their children and grandfather as well.

Our longtime head coach Rick Nester lost his partner and one of his closest friends. A gap that will remain for an extended period of time.

The young ladies lost more than just a softball coach. They lost a family member. For some, it is a crazy uncle while others a grandfather.

There is a plaque with Jeff’s face and name on it mounted by the Concession stand. It’s to help us remember our past.

With the other capsules, I started out with the photos already pre-selected. This one is different, and I ask that if you’re reading this and have a favorite picture of Jeff, with our without your kiddo in it, please send it to me, and I will add them below.

What works for me is when I’m encouraging people to visit the Concession Stand. In my mind, it’s the Tobes Snack Shack that I’m referring to.

I’m hoping to add a few more !

From Coach Nester :

Next Up : Trish Clontz : with 3 !

Donna Nester has hers below !

Next up, Tammy Tobler :

The Smith Family :

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Sharon DeHaven added :

” He loved his softball. Tammy was the love of his life. You never seen one without the other. Love the 9-11 memorial.”

Rumor has it that Ashlynn Smith once stared at a softball, looked it dead in the seems, and said, ” You want a piece of me!” That might explain why she trotted down to first base 712 times this season after being hit by a pitch.

Okay, maybe it wasn’t really 712 because that’s just silly for one season. But it was ALOT! Another thing to know about this very personable young lady is she is a fan of Mr Martin McKenzie, and that is something that her and I have in common. Martin, he’s good people !!

Mom 👩 has her hands full with the busy schedule 📅 that her Kiddo keeps. She did take the time to share why these pics 📸 mattered the most to her.

  ” I had to include a picture of where some of the inspiration started, her cousin. Then, a favorite picture of the season. Missing some, but it shows the fun bond that they have, and Coach Warf in the background is icing on the cake.”

Thank you, Mrs. Smith and we will work on getting your favorite Lady Cavalier demagnatized – not sure if that’s a real word or not ???

Psalm 17:15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

Getting to experience the Outer Banks from an entirely different perspective yesterday afternoon has me saying Wow !

Here’s hoping that Day 3 of the Soccer ⚽️ camp on The Hill goes as well as possible and Have yourself a Blessed Day 🙌

Howard Mayo with his Motovational Nugget for the Day :

Thank you to Jeremy Puckett for sneaking in some pics 📸 from the early stages of the camp. Great turnout, and we look forward to seeing 👀 more at the end !

Why do we do the things we do in regard to the sport of softball ? Some of it’s not what people consider ” normal “.

What does a new softball bat cost nowadays ? I hear that it runs in the neighborhood of what my very first car cost. It was a used 1971 Mercury Comet that set us back $500.00 in 1979.

When you have families who have multiple daughters, three bats = a house payment. We all care about the game for different reasons, but first and foremost, I believe that it’s about quality time with our kiddos !

The future of the sport is no longer in jeopardy but the health of it is in our hands. Yes, trophies 🏆 are nice, but it’s not what you are going to remember.

If you need validation of that point, just ask the parents of Lady Cavaliers Softball program that have played their final official game. The thought process of knowing that all of those years of travel and support are a fading memory. I don’t think that Debbie, Denise, the Colemans or the Burnetts are thinking about the weekend tournament nine years ago and the medal that their child earned.

Take the time ⏲️ to enjoy the ride that the game of Softball can take you on ! Because you will miss it when it’s gone.