The late autumn sun slanted across the softball diamond at Volunteer Field, casting long shadows that stretched from home plate to the outfield. It was the kind of afternoon where you can smell Winter on its way, but the ground hasn't quite given up on Fall.

This is where you'll find the Lady Colonials, Mount Pleasant's 12-and-under softball team, practicing with the kind of determination that only comes after tasting both bitter defeats and sweet victories. The metallic ping of bat meeting ball rings out across the field, followed by encouraging shouts from Coach Joe, whose voice has become as familiar to these girls as their own parents' over the past season.

THE RETURN TO HOME BASE
"Eye on the ball! Stay with it!" Coach Joe calls out as a pop fly arcs against the autumn sky. The softball descends into a waiting glove with a satisfying thwap, a sound that, just months ago, was more often followed by the disappointing thud of a dropped ball.

But that was then.

The Lady Colonials' mid-season story isn't just about a team finding its groove, it's about rediscovering what made these girls love the game in the first place. For a handful of these sixth and seventh graders, their softball journey began nearly a decade ago, when their cleats were tiny, their gloves were stiff, and the concept of strategy extended about as far as remembering which base to run to next. 

GROWING PAINS AND GROUND BALLS
"At the start of the season, there were games where nothing seemed to go right," admits Coach Joe, adjusting his cap as he recalls the early season struggles. "Throws not making it to bases, balls slipping through gloves, innings that may have gone on and on." The Mercy Rule, which puts a cap on five runs per inning when both coaches agree, became a team friend in those early games. 

But here's where the story takes a turn, and where the Lady Colonials show what they're really made of.

 THE ART OF THE COMEBACK
Watch the team practice now, and you'll see something different. Lorelei winds up on the pitcher's mound, her face a mask of concentration. The ball releases from her hand with speed and accuracy.  Behind her, the infield shifts with practiced precision – these aren't just girls playing positions anymore, they're teammates anticipating each other's moves.

Ella, another of the team's pitchers, practices her technique. Vera and Sofia, who also share pitching duties, field grounders on the infield.  The rotation of positions that Coach Joe implements isn't just about giving everyone playing time – it's about building a team where every player understands the game from multiple angles.

COACH JOE: ENCOURAGING PLAYERS AND PARENTS

Lorelei’s mom, watching from the bleachers, is encouraged after enduring a string of coaches that weren’t the best fit for the girls. She knows what Coach Joe, new to the Lady C’s team, is made of—several years before, she watched him grow her son into a real player. Lorelei’s dad agrees. "Coach Joe understands how to motivate the girls. He also takes strategy and play seriously. So the girls do, too.” 

Coach Joe is on deck for The Stuff Team Is Made Of. Be sure to check back to learn a little bit more about the motivating man behind the Lady Colonials.

TEAM TALK: JOIN THE CONVERSATION
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