I have always loved sports. I grew up in a family that played and watched all kinds of sports. I was never the best, and I was never the worst, but I played. And I loved it. My Dad ran track in college (it was short-lived), my brother played golf in college, and my niece recently committed to play D1 lacrosse. I can say with confidence that my kids will not pay their mortgage by playing sports; I think my brother got all our family's college athletic genes to pass on, unfortunately. But I still encourage my kids to play. They both love diamond sports which ironically is something nobody in my family played. Often times when I leave at 5 pm for a little league game and arrive home at 9pm, I scratch my head as to why I am doing this. But the smiles on my kids' faces when they are playing is why, and I love watching. Sports are fun - at least they are supposed to be.

My husband has coached my daughter's softball team since she was seven years old. His patience and encouragement are the only reason she still plays. Blair spent many of her team's early games picking daisies in the outfield while singing and dancing to show tunes that only she could hear. But my husband stuck with it and convinced her to do the same. Her height and determination have made her a formidable pitcher. Watching her mouth slip into a wry smile as she strikes someone out is about the most fun I can have on a Saturday. It has helped that Lacey, who worked at the store for years and still helps out some, pitched at Wittenberg and has given Blair lessons for years.

But that is only part of the reason I encourage our kids to play. It is bigger than that. It builds confidence, teaches them about commitment, collaboration, and showing up for others. It is about winning with grace and losing with dignity. It is about working hard and getting better both physically and mentally.

Nothing has reminded me more as I watch the Women's College World Series this past few weeks. If you have never watched college softball, I encourage you to tune in next year. It is completely addictive even if you have never played. I will even let you in on the bracket contest I have done with Amy Hunt for the past few years.

This year, Virginia's own James Madison University was the Cinderella story of the series, and they have a player, Odicci Alexander, who stole everyone's heart. She led her team to become the first unranked team to advance to the semifinals and did it with a gutsy play that literally left it all on the field. When she walked off the field during what would be her final college game, she did so to a standing ovation from all the fans in the stands in Oklahoma City, most of whom were there for her opponent, the Oklahoma Sooners. As her eyes filled with tears, so did mine. This is the kind of person you want your kids to look up to. Little girls across American watched this young woman, and not only do they now want to play softball, they want to be strong and disciplined. They want to be a leader like Odicci.

Photo credit: OU Insider

She literally taught herself to pitch by watching YouTube and painting pitching target marks on her grandparents' well in Virginia. She never thought she was going to play in college and was only playing travel for a short time when she was spotted by the JMU coach who happened to see Odicci while he was recruiting a different player but left with his eyes set on signing her.

These two quotes from an article in the Charlotte Observer from her coach and teammate sum it up for me as to why sports, if we play them or watch them, matter.

"Her mentality and her growth and her maturity is what's getting it done," James Madison coach Loren LaPorte said after the win over Oklahoma State. "She's always had the physical part of things, but where her mindset is right now — it's unbelievable. Those tools have made her calm under pressure, and it helps her teammates."

"Looking over to my left and seeing her composed, seeing her relaxed, cool, calm, and collected really helps," James Madison third baseman Lynsey Meeks said. "It gives you confidence. It gives you, you know, she's giving you her best, so you want to go out, make plays, and do your best for her. It definitely slows the heart rate and helps you make big plays."

Seeing other's people strength gives us strength. It makes us want to be better ourselves and do better by others and what is better than that. If you want to see how great of an athlete Odicci is, watch this. And, read more here. It is truly one of the greatest plays I have ever seen, and I watch a lot of baseball and softball at all levels.