Inside the Cupboard

It’s the most wonderful time of the year – how many times have you heard that!

But never have you heard it in the month of March.

Welcome to springtime, Easter, water activities and most of all baseball and softball at every level.

 Is there any other time that you see so many relatives, educators and friends of players on the diamond gathered to watch. This time is a sportswriter’s dream, including this one’s.

However, age is definitely interfering with my get up and go. I ran short last week and left Malone baseball out – something they did not deserve.

Not that it’s the same, but I did make it up to them this week with all of their games in the paper. However, once again, I fell short, way short this time but in the words that the staff at the Times hears way too often, “I’ve got a plan!” I tried to make sure I included at least one event from every school.

While I realize the season is just beginning, city recreation for Cottondale, Graceville, Grand Ridge, Malone, Marianna, and Sneads has not hosted their opening day for rec baseball and softball so I am well aware I need to have a plan and to put that plan in place.

At last report, at Optimist Park, there were 235 signed up for baseball, 94 for softball, and with a little over a week left, 185 for spring soccer.

Sneads recreation reported 262 kids signed for baseball and softball. Those are some impressive numbers and I’m working on obtaining numbers from the other towns. I tell you all of that to say this – believe it or not, I am human (although I’m sure some may question that. I will truly have to have all my ducks in a row and not lose them in the process, and a lot of cooperation from coaches (both paid and volunteer) to keep up but with a break here and there (spring break, rainouts, etcetera), I think I can, I think I can, YES, I CAN DO IT. I promise you I will go to my grave saying nothing replaces the look on a child’s face when they see their name and most especially their picture in the paper showcasing their accomplishments.

 I know I am way past my time, and there are days when I really think it’s time to go to the house, but then that little voice tells me no way, it’s not time yet. And no, I do not think I am better at my job than anyone else, but I do know that no one will ever work harder or longer than I will to make things happen.

If your child(ren), grandchild(ren) are ever left out, please just let me know and I will make it right. And that’s the way it is from Inside the Cupboard.