Meeker Moments: Heritage Heroes take 2nd in State!

Sunday, May 28, 2023

Heritage Heroes take 2nd in State!

2023--What a season it has been. Tatum took her team to state which is the furthest we've been in the 4 years we've been on this team. It was a heart wrenching game as we had this team right up until the last inning. Heritage Maricopa, them team we have not beat yet. But honestly, we did not expect to make it as far as we did this year.

Last summer, the team starting pitcher, Diana, blew out her team playing club ball. We had NO OTHER pitchers on the team. Tatum had "pitched" before but usually only when we were so far ahead and to give the starting pitcher a break. But she made the decision to buckle down and really master this skill. She began private pitching lessons this past October basically to try and salvage our spring softball season and carry the team until Diana was healthy again. It was nothing she ever wanted or aspired to do--she didn't like the pressure of it--but she gave it her all and just AMAZED us all with her ability to not only learn this skill, but learn it so effectively and with such poise and grace. She seriously looked like she had been pitching for years. Coach Vega said she had the presence of someone who had been pitching for 5/6 years. HUGE credit to Chris on this. Not only did he take Tatum to lessons every week, he stayed there, caught for her, and then practiced with her 4-5 times outside lessons each week. He was her ROCK this season. (He even made her take her pitching equipment to FL over Spring Break and found a field for them to practice in--but Tatum was completely fine with this). Tatum ended this season actually really LOVING pitching--biggest surprise to ALL of us😂

We ended this season with 12 wins, 2 losses, and 1 tie (on a game that we were unable to finish due to a girl from the other team being hospitalized). In the championship game, we were ahead the entire game and them errors plagued our team and Maricopa pulled off the win with their last at-bats. Tatum pitched her face off in this game--as Coach Vega says, "Numbers don't lie"--she absolutely out-pitched the Maricopa pitcher. The Maricopa pitcher pitched a total of 145 pitches in the game, Tatum pitched 85 (meaning she was much more accurate and had to throw less). The Maricopa walked 10 batters, Tatum walked 3. In the end, it was the Maricopa hitters that won this game for them. The Maricopa team was just better (they have and "A" team and a "B" team made up of only high school players and they play year-round club together). Our team is pieced together with 3 of our starter being young jr. high girls--best way to describe our team is "scrappy." But we sure gave them a tough game. So as sad as we were to come away without the win, these girls did something GREAT this year. And we have plans on how to make next year even better. So maybe one day we'll be Maricopa:)

Tatum was named to the All-Star Sahuaro Region team and was also awarded "All Sahuaro Region Player of the Year." Coach Vega was awarded "Coach of the Year." We could not be more proud of Tatum. I sure loved watching my baby girl gain so much confidence as she turned from a "a girl that could pitch" to a "PITCHER." Way to go Baby Girl. Can't wait to see what these next two years will bring.

Some of my favorite pics of the season: