Photoessay #804 - NKCLL All-Stars

Susanna participated in the North King County Little League All Stars for four years. After the end of the season, the coaches pick an all-star team (with attendant angst from those who think they should have been picked) This team practices nearly every day for 3 weeks and then participates in the Region 8 tournament in Woodinville. Winner to the State Little League tournament.

At that time, many elementary school girls played NKC softball. When Susanna was in third grade, a certain number of girls were moved up into 'Majors' including Susanna. They formed the nucleus of the u10 (u9?) all star team. As usual, Susanna fought me on trying something new. "I'm not doing it" she would wail "You can't make me!". Until we got to Hamlin Park, where she saw the girls and coaches gathered into two lines throwing the ball back and forth. She bolted upright in mid-whine "Who are those people?? What are they doing?" she demanded to know. "That's the all star team". "I better get out there RIGHT NOW!!!" she exclaimed and out the door she went never looking back.

She LOVED All Stars. She loved the every day practices. She wanted to know, why did they have to wait until the early evening to start, why couldn't they go earlier in the day "I'll bring my lunch!" she offers. When some parents started complaining about the every day practices and the coaches backed off, Susanna was incensed. "Not have practice??" she wailed "I OBJECT!! I am wearing my NKC hat to bed in protest!!" She loved the tournament, she loved the games. In sixth grade, they won Region 8 in a dramatic end (winning the if game) and earned the trip to the State tournament in Walla Walla. No gold medal meant so much. The man in charge of the Region 8 tournament dramatically handed them the award and intoned that they now represented not just North King County but all of Region 8! The girls gravely accepted their mission, the coaches were sobbing. A huge deal!

Money was tight and we had a big family. No way could we go to Walla Walla. Susanna went with Crystal and her dad Bob. They've remained good buddies ever since. We couldn't resist. One day, I convinced my inlaws to take Naomi, told Ilana to make sandwiches, and the two of us took off to Walla Walla, a good six hours away for the day. Dennis did something similar on the weekend.

I got an idea how much softball meant to her when, several years earlier, I overheard a conversation at some other team party between Susanna and the NKC head of softball. Susanna was maybe in second grade.

"Hey Susanna, spring will be here soon and you know what that means...softball".

"Yes", Susanna replied fervently "yes, it's softball"

And the way she said it, I knew we were in for it. She said it in such a fashion, as the sun rises, as the world turns, I will play softball in the spring. No question, no chance for any other alternative, Susanna plays softball.

Here's a picture from one of the District 8 tournaments in Woodinville (1995?). Dennis and Ilana along with Jim and Lanaya seated in front. Jim and Lanaya look pretty good in this picture, dressed appropriately, enjoying the games. May they rest in peace, things would fall apart for them physically (for all of us) sooner than they thought.

But look who's also wearing a NKC All Star hat and jacket. Ilana! Ilana also played softball but, um, was not a star. But she put her name in for All Stars but realized that she likely would not be picked. The lists were posted at Hamlin at a certain time early Saturday morning. Susanna and I went to look. Susanna made it, natch. But look at the younger kids. It was like the movies where the important character's name is brightly illuminated on a dark blurred newspaper. Ilana Barnes, part of the younger all star team. It was one of those 'stars aligned in an unlikely fashion' situations. We came home, Ilana stretched on the couch watching cartoons.

"Guess who made all stars?"
"Susanna" she mumbled not looking up
"Well yes, but guess who else made it?"
She looked at me quizzically
"ILANA BARNES made it!"
She literally levitated off the couch "I did?"
General celebration

So the next few weeks were totally consumed with North King County All Stars. She went to every practice, played outfield and got that cool green jacket.

Shades of things to come in regards to Susanna and softball.