Page 6 of Framing the Pitch (Red Dirt Romance #1)
The team clubhouse is riotous on Monday morning.
For many of us, it’s the first time we’ve seen each other since the previous season.
For some, it’s the first time we’ve ever met.
A few familiar faces are missing—either retired or moving on to other teams—and some new faces are trades from other teams in the WFL.
Unfamiliar faces of the few rookies on our team are a welcome sight, the quiet proof that the league isn’t failing and new talent is coming up from the college level.
I settle down at my locker space in our team facilities in San Antonio.
While ours don’t have the same expanse as the Oklahoma City Mayhem, who play at the stadium that hosts the college championship tournament, at least we have our own dedicated complex.
Both the Riverview Renegades and the Phoenix Firebirds share their facilities with local universities, and although the dream is for each of them to have their own stadiums, I know a lot of funding has to be generated for projects like that.
Erica sits down next to me and leans her head on my shoulder as I reach down to tie my cleats.
Today, we’ll gear up in our practice uniforms before our team meeting, and then we’ll head out to the field for our first full team practice of the season.
Thankfully, she doesn’t look like she went on a weekend bender after her sister’s championship, and all that pint-sized power is ready to be generated into a positive force for this year’s team.
Coach Jillian Golding enters the room, followed closely by Leah Mercer, the team owner, and the noise level drops in an instant, leaving the room buzzing with silent energy.
Jillian Golding is a woman in her mid-fifties who has more softball knowledge than anyone I’ve ever met.
She played for Arizona back in the nineties when they dominated the college championships along with UCLA.
Before signing on to coach with the Storm, she was the head coach at a smaller college in her home state.
Her graying black hair is pulled back into a ponytail and halfway obscured with a white Storm visor.
Decked out like the rest of us in the team’s navy and sky blue colors, she looks unchanged from the time I was drafted four years ago.
Leah is dressed in dark skinny jeans and a yellow blazer that matches the “STORM” across all of our chests.
Her dark brown hair is loose around her shoulders, and she sports a wide smile that puts us all at ease.
While she’s not exactly a stranger around the clubhouse, having the owner in here demands a little more decorum than usual.
“Welcome back, ladies,” Coach Golding says as she takes her place in the circle of lockers.
“I hope all of you had a good off season.” Smiles and head nods fill the room.
“To begin, I wanted to welcome all the new players to the team.” She begins with the couple veterans who traded to the Storm in the off season.
Ladies I admire, and I’m excited to compete with them instead of against them.
“And of course, we can’t forget our rookies!
” Coach introduces three young players, all of whom I recognize from last week’s tournament.
I make eye contact with Haven Hylander, a pitcher from Alabama who played in the game against Oklahoma.
As she looks around the room, I mouth “Roll Tide,” which makes her snort.
Overall, we have five new-to-us players who are ready to make this year the Storm’s year.
After the rest of the coaching staff is introduced to the new players, Coach Golding continues with an overview of what to expect over the next couple of days before our home opener game on Thursday.
We all listen raptly, each of us itching to take to the field and begin working on becoming a well-oiled machine.
“Before we head out, I wanted to turn the time over to Leah Mercer, the owner of the Storm, for a few quick words.”
Coach Golding steps back, and Leah steps forward. “It’s really great to be here with all of you. Judging by the energy in this clubhouse, it’s going to be a great year! I just wanted to pass along some information from the league office that will hopefully make a big impact on your year.”
The frenetic energy stills as she pauses. While the Women’s Fastpitch League is still young, word from the league office is equally likely to be good as it is to be bad.
“We all know the WFL is small and it’s always a battle with the same team for the championship.
” We all, including the trades, know that she’s talking about the Firebirds—the team who took the league championship title from us last year and the team we took the title from the year before.
“But word is that if we have a good year—the entire league as a whole—with attendance, viewership, outreach, engagement, and more, new expansion teams will be coming down the pipeline.”
Whispers break out, even though we’re all still eagerly awaiting what else Leah has to say. Expansion teams would be a dream. For all of us. Imagine how many new players we could bring to this level with even one team, but with the way Leah’s talking, there’s more than just one in the works.
“The league is actively working to find owners and sponsors for these teams, but we want each of you to do your part. Get active on social media if you aren’t.
If you are, keep spreading the word. The more hype we can generate, the better our odds are to get those new teams.” Leah looks at all of us with a smile on her face, and everyone is grinning back at her.
While my following isn’t massive, it’s decent, thanks to my stints with the women’s national team and our recent gold medals at the Pan American Games and the World Championships. But…I know someone whose following dwarfs mine and, as of the other day, might be willing to help me out.
An idea begins to form at the back of my mind, and I tuck it away, wanting to talk it over with Erica when we get out to the field and have a little space.
“And, as always, if you guys have any questions or concerns, please come talk to me or anyone on the office staff. We’re here to support you guys, and we want to help make this year the most successful year we can. Good luck, ladies!”
We all quietly applaud as Leah steps back and Coach Golding takes her place.
“As always, our goal for this season is the championship,” she says, looking at each one of us in turn.
“It’s well within our grasp, and with this year’s new additions, I feel confident that it will be our reality.
So let’s get out there, put the work in, and prove to the Firebirds that we are ready to take back our title. ”
Coach ends her little speech, and the whole team erupts into hoots and cheers.
“Storm! Bring it in! ”
Everyone in the room stands and pushes toward the middle of the clubhouse. For the first team cheer of the season, Coach stands in the middle of the circle. “Lightning strikes! Thunder follows!” she shouts.
“STORM!” the team responds. Three quick claps round out our cheer, and we whoop as we separate back to our lockers to grab our gear.
The season has officially begun.