The Crack Heard 'Round Ramona.

There are moments as a parent that are almost surreal. That seem to happen in slow motion.

One of those moments happened for me two weeks ago, on a dusty softball field in the heart of Ramona.

Eliana, who made it on the all-star silver team this season, was called up to play on the gold team for a game. Just one game. She had to actually try out for one game, but she made it and was super excited.

She plays one game in the weekend-long tournament and the coach asks her to return for another game. And then another until the final game of the tournament. Up against crosstown rival Vista, Carlsbad was already down one game in the double-elimination tournament. In order to move on to the state championships, Carlsbad would have to come from behind to beat Vista.

The game was intense. Fiery. So fiery and contentious that the coach and dugout mom from Vista were evicted for poor sportsmanship. So you can image that tension - and the stakes - were high.

Time runs out and the teams are tied, so they are forced into an international tie breaker (essentially a sudden death showdown). Carlsbad is down by one run and has two outs. One more out, and Vista moves ahead and Carlsbad is out.

Who gets up to bat?

My daughter. The feisty kid from the silver team brought up to sub in at the gold tournament.

I turn away from the field. A knot in my stomach. I can't watch. I don't want my daughter's at bat to be the cause of the end of the season for the girls. Why my daughter? Ten other girls on the team and it has to be Eliana at bat.

And then I hear it.

The crack. 

Followed by the cheers.

And the screams.

And the next thing you know everyone is surrounding me and hugging me and screaming.

My daughter knocked it out of the park, bringing in a winning run that rocketed the Carlsbad team into the state championships.

The excitement is more than I could bear.

In fact, at 40 years old, and after two kids, I will admit I pee'd myself. From the excitement and the jumping and the screaming. And the utter relief.

And now, thanks to my little one-hit wonder, we are officially members of the gold all stars. 

So in just a few short hours, we are off to the state championships. Watch out Lancaster, because my girl has a bat in hand and is headed your way.

Comments

[Renee Hindman]

I love this. A moment you your family will never forget. Great job Eliana!