| June 5, 2005 5:30 p.m. - Will Rogers World Airport, Oklahoma
City, OK
As I’m sure those of you that have been keeping tabs on my WCWS diary noticed by
my lack of a late-night entry, the team dinner ended up turning into an all night
dance-away-our-frustrations-athon at Russell’s, the hoppin’ hotel bar back at
the Marriott. Before we get lost in the night’s festivities though, let’s go
back to the beginning of the day when, at 9:12 a.m. – we thought the Tecate would
settle better with a few chocolate Moon Pies to snuggle with in our stomachs, so the
tailgate got underway a bit late. The crew and I popped our first tops of the day -
marking the earliest time barley and hops has ever entered the Troescher tummy cavity.
At 10:00 a.m., we loaded into rental car #2 – the appropriately named Rendezvous
– and rolled into the ASA Softball Complex representing for the 510 with windows down
and Tupac’s "California Love" blaring from the speakers. After bottled brew
numero dos it was cheer practice time – aka get-ESPN’s attention time –
inside the stadium. The session worked a bit better than I would have liked - resulting in my on-camera interview with Holly Rowe in the 6th inning - but I blame that more on
the softball parents than the pre-game practice.
Somehow they managed to convince Ms. Rowe that they had flown me in specifically to
cheer at the ballgame. Silly parents. But as much as I act like I didn’t enjoy the
attention the interview was fun, and I’m all for doing anything I can to get the
greatest public university in the world more air time than our opponent.
I’ve got to hand it to the rest of the Cal contingent though. I told them before
the game and the feeling remains as strong as ever after yesterday’s marathon. In my
opinion, Cal softball fans – Cal softball parents being the elite members of the
group – make up the loudest, most attentive, most excited, and most
intelligent fans in sports.
From the Cal spell-out we did right before the team was introduced, to the consistently
overpowering "Cal-i-for-nia" (clap, clap, clap clap clap) and "C-A-L"
cheers we performed instantly upon hearing the "Ar-i-zo-na" and
"U-of-A" yells from across the diamond, to the "Go-Go-Galindo" yells
they were still hollering in the top of the 10th inning – when even I was
ready to pass out from heat and dehydration. The fans were one, of if not the, reason
the girls were able to comeback and push the game into extra innings.
Even the 5th inning rally should be attributed in large part to the "Right Now
Bears!" that echoed throughout the stadium - which I believe started the 2-run burst
that tied the game - prior to shortstop Chelsea Spencer’s leadoff single.
If it’s not obvious by now, writing about more in-game incidents isn’t going
to get the point across anyway. So I’ll leave the cheering tangent and return to the
rest of the day by saying I LOVE CAL SOFTBALL FANS. THEY ARE AMAZING. I WANT TO BUY THEM
ALL A YEAR’S SUPPLY OF TECA…well you get the idea.
And if you’re reading this self-indulgent blog, I’m positive you already know
how the game ended. So I’m going to skip the most difficult part of the day and go
directly to the post-game consoling party that took place behind the right field fence.
But first, it’s time to board my flight back to Oakland.
9:14 p.m. – United Airlines Flight 505, Somewhere in the air over the Southwest
United States
Where was I? Oh right, post-game. All the expected emotions were present - frustration,
sadness and regret. Juniors Lindsay James and Haley Woods told me to get my hands on
something for them to hit, because they liked my face too much. Senior Kaleo Eldredge
found my shoulder an excellent soaking point for the tears of anger and sadness she was
shedding for one – taking responsibility for the winning run crossing the plate, even
though the runner would have beaten the most accurate of throws – and two –
ending her Cal career with only one NCAA championship ring.
Fellow seniors Vicky Galindo and Chelsea Spencer slowly made their way through the
crowd of fans looking dazed from the abrupt end to their amazing careers, yet proud of all
the things they accomplished during their four years on the squad. Knowing they had given
all they could to the Cal program, and have left it today in very good shape for the years
to come.
All three are already on their way to play more ball, Galindo at the National Team
Trials in Chula Vista; Spencer and Eldredge for the New York/New Jersey Juggernauts of the
National Pro Fastpitch softball league.
Never the type of team to dwell in defeat - especially after putting in as much effort
as the girls did yesterday - the exhausted Cal family soon packed up its gear, made a
quick stop back at the hotel to freshen up, and carpooled over to the local County Line
Barbeque restaurant for its last few hours of togetherness.
Worth mentioning from the time at the County Line is the rib-eating competition that
went down at the players' table. The self-designated and Kate-approved winner was none
other than right fielder Alex Sutton, though senior Gwen Arafiles put up a valiant fight.
By the time both were finished competing, I was sure that an entire cow had passed by the
lips of each contestant. Yet the two left the restaurant under their own power and
Arafiles proceeded to match me dance-move-for-dance-move during the last stop of the
evening - at the previously-mentioned hotel bar – proving that Cal softball players
can be resilient both on and off the field.
By 12:30 a.m. the once overly packed party table had dwindled to a small gathering,
including Oklahoman bride-to-be Stacey, one of the many blondes whose night was made by
the team’s Bay Area booty shaking. (Best of luck to you Stacey! Remember, it’s
bend, hold one and two then snap.) Less than five hours later, the team was back on the
bus, headed for the airport on their way back to Berkeley. And just like that, the
whirlwind WCWS was over.
June 6, 2005
12:45 a.m. – Finally back home, Berkeley, CA
I suppose I could continue at this point by talking about my travels home. Tell you
about the food-coma inducing afternoon breakfast I had at the renowned Cracker Barrel
restaurant earlier today. Go on and on about how I couldn’t get enough of their sweet
tea and corn bread. Then laugh at the fact that upon making it to back to my old buddy,
the Denver Airport, around 7:15 p.m. tonight, I had time to pay Kristine at Lefty’s
Bar and Grill one last visit thanks to my 8:28 p.m. connection to Oakland being delayed
– AGAIN! But this entry is long enough already, so I think I’ll hold off and
jump straight into my concluding thoughts instead. Following a quick late night snack. Be
back soon.
1:48 a.m. – Signing off
I’d like to start the beginning of this blog’s end by saying thank you to the
entire Cal softball family, for making me feel so welcome and appreciated during my three
and a half days in Oklahoma City. I’d like to thank the crew, most notably Karen and
Kristen, for housing me the past few days after I managed to make reservations at the
wrong hotel. And most importantly, I’d like to thank the girls of the 2005 California
softball team.
I’ve led cheers for a lot of teams, in a lot of games, in front of a lot of fans.
I’ve spent time with athletes from a number of sports over the past three years.
I’ve even played on a few Cal teams of my own. Of course, they were intramural soccer
squads that played once a week, but that’s besides the point. Point being,
there’s just something about our ladies that sets them apart.
The heart and determination they played with was unbelievable. After 10 innings in the
hot, humid Oklahoma afternoon I was done. Cooked. Ready for bed. And all I’d been
doing was making noise every few minutes.
But these girls, our Bears, simply would not give up. Catcher Haley Woods told me after
dinner last night that she’d never felt so tired before in her entire career. That by
the 11th inning, each time she went to squat she was unsure if she would have the strength
to stand back up. Going so far as to compare her legs to "cement pillars" while
attempting to describe how they felt in the last few innings of the game.
Heart. Strength. Determination.
If the oft used saying "The Bear Will Not Quit, The Bear Will Not Die" ever
needed a photo stand-in for itself, after this weekend, I’d know a team picture that
would easily qualify to fill the space. And while the season didn’t end as the
seniors had hoped or any Cal fan had planned – me representing the #1 person on that
list – that could be the most beautiful thing to emerge from the entire situation.
Not all stories, especially those revolving around sports - where anything that can
happen usually does – have a storybook ending. Players make mistakes; teams get
lucky, games get lost. It’s all a part of the larger picture we call life. And though
I know I’m biased, and only had a few minutes at a time to interact with the players,
coaches, and fans from the other teams in the tournament, there are no other gals for whom
I would have rather lost my voice than my very own Golden Bears.
Even in defeat, I flew home today proudly puffing out my Cal t-shirt wearing chest,
replaying in my head the numerous interactions I had with the girls over my time covering
the series. Still upset to see such a great group of seniors end their careers by going
two and out at the WCWS, yet hopeful and excited about the future.
Remember, it’s gals like James and Woods - two competitors who hate losing
and have long memories – who are set to return to lead the Bears next season.
And if their post-game passion is any indication of the road ahead, let’s just say I
wouldn’t want to play for ANY other PAC-10 school come spring. Especially UCLA or
Arizona.
The feelings of tournament greatness I talked about during my first few entries may not
have panned out exactly as any of us hoped. Still, three straight trips to the NCAA title
game is one hell of a feat. Four years in a row would have been unprecedented. And who
knows, maybe it was for the best. If for no other reason than to keep the rest of the
country interested in the sport.
Anyway, this entry has turned into an essay. Most of which I’m sure has made
little to no sense, so I think I’m going to go wash up and head to bed. Oh, and one
last thing.
Though disappointed with the finish at this year’s series, I’m already
counting the days until the 2006 softball season gets underway. If you’re a Cal fan,
I encourage you to do the same. Because like the old saying goes, revenge is sweet. And
last time I checked, honey was a Bear’s favorite treat. So until snack time
begins…it’s been an honor. Here’s to another wild Oklahoma City ride next
year!
GO BEARS!
Kate Troescher |