Michael Klim Softball

I have been fortunate enough to coach some pretty talented athletes.

They also happen to be pretty amazing people.

And incredible role models for the next generation of softball players in our community!

They are now doing a little coaching of their own!

If you have a youth softball player in your family who is looking to get some work in during the off season, I highly recommend one of these events!

Great ball players, but even better role models for the future generations!

Feel free to reach out for any additional information!

“𝗪𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧”⁣
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These girls have done incredible things.⁣
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I’ve just been fortunate enough to be by their side and support them. ⁣
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Over the past few months, each of these athletes have committed to play college softball.⁣
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And I’ve struggled to write a post about it.⁣
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Not because I didn’t care.⁣
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But because I never want to claim their success. ⁣
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THEY are the reason for their success.⁣
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They are the ones having to pass up on high school social events on the weekends because they have games. ⁣
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They are the ones that are physically exhausted at the end of the day but still have to stay up late to do homework. ⁣
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They are the ones that are mentally and emotionally drained but still have to wake up early in the morning and run out the door to school.⁣
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They are the ones constantly trying to balance success in the classroom, success on the field, and a successful personal life. ⁣
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I just get to toss them balls, and share some conversations with them along the way.⁣
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It’s because of THEM, that I decided to share this post. ⁣
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Because these girls committing to play college softball means that they are using softball as a platform to further their education and better prepare themselves for their future.⁣
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They should be celebrated.⁣
They deserve the attention. ⁣
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To you girls,⁣
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I’m proud of each of you! ⁣
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Thank you so much for allowing me to be part of your journey. ⁣
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As time moves on and you all move throughout the country, I hope you always know I’m a phone call away! ⁣
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I’ll be forever grateful for you all and the time we have shared together ❤️🤙🏽⁣
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“𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐚 𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞. 𝐈𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞.” ⁣
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It was 2017.⁣
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I was living in Miami but I had went home to Atlanta, to visit my family for Thanksgiving.⁣
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As I arrived back in Miami after the holiday I came to the realization that I missed home.⁣
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I missed my family, my friends, and the community that I grew up in.⁣
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I made up my mind. I would finish 2017 in Miami and then look to relocate back to Atlanta at the begging of 2018.⁣
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Little did I know, life never works out as planned.⁣
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In early December I received a call from Florida International University. They offered me the opportunity to be a volunteer assistant coach on their staff.⁣
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I remember the conversation with the coach. ⁣
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“Why don’t you come down next week, watch us practice, see if you’re interested, and we can talk.”⁣
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I remember going to practice and just acting like a fly on the wall.⁣
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I didn’t know any of the girl’s names, and they didn’t know mine.⁣
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I just stood there awkwardly as they took batting practice. I know they probably wondered who I was and what I was doing. ⁣
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After practice, and against all plans I had made up in my mind, I signed on to coach. ⁣
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Over the next 6 months, those girls became my family. ⁣
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We traveled the country together. Playing softball and sharing stories about life.⁣
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The college season can be exhausting, both mentally and physically⁣
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But through our handshakes, motivational quotes, and Dunkin’ runs, we kept each other going.⁣
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Our conversations don’t come as often as they once did, and we have traded in our talks about hitting for updates on life⁣
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But the conversations still mean more to me than they will ever know.⁣
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I am so proud of each of you for going on to be successful business professionals, wives, and mothers.⁣
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Thank you for the all impact you have had on my life. ⁣
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Thank you for allowing me to be part of your big day 👰🤙🏽⁣
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“𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐠𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧: 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬”⁣
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Last week was the final week for most of our college kids.⁣
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But it wasn’t the typically emotional goodbyes that I have seen over the years.⁣
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It almost seemed as if they were ready to go. ⁣
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Ready for something new.⁣
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I spent the weekend thinking about it. ⁣
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Trying to figure out why these goodbyes felt so different than those of the past.⁣
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Why the kids were so less emotional.⁣
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So less scared to leave.⁣
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Then I came to the conclusion, they are excited for routines.⁣
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I think when I kid leaves for college it’s the fear in changing their routine.⁣
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Trading in the comfort of their current routine for a new one. ⁣
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Well, these kids haven’t had a routine for the past year and a half.⁣
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It’s been full of online learning, games being canceled, and events being rescheduled.⁣
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As they left last week, I think they left excited to get back to some sort of routine.⁣
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I can’t blame them. ⁣
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But that doesn’t mean I won’t miss them.⁣
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Because of them, this facility is what it is.⁣
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For their willingness to believe in me, support my vision for the facility, and give back to the younger generations, I cannot thank them enough.⁣
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So as excited as I am to watch them spread their wings, I hope they always come back to their roots when they are in town.⁣
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To you girls,⁣
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I know a lot of you started weights, practice, and classes today. ⁣
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I know you all will have good and bad days over this fall. ⁣
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I know some days will fly by, some days will be a grind.⁣
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Just keep going and enjoy the moments. You all worked your whole life to become college softball players.⁣
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I am so proud of you all!!⁣
Call me if you need anything! ⁣
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Love,⁣
Michael 🤙🏽⁣
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“𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐨 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭, 𝐠𝐨 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞. 𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐨 𝐟𝐚𝐫, 𝐠𝐨 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫”⁣
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Today didn’t go as planned. ⁣
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Within the blink of an eye, it was over.⁣
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But 3rd place at PGF is nothing to hold your head about.
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To this group, thank you for allowing me to be part of your summer.⁣
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From the VIP Section, to the slam dunks, to the talks about life, and even a few discussions about hitting.⁣
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I wouldn’t change it for the world.⁣
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There isn’t a group I would have rather traveled across the county with.⁣
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I watched you all grow both as players, but even more as people.⁣
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I am so thankful for you all! I love each of ya! ⁣
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To Brett, the coaches, the parents, and the entire Georgia Impact Organization, thank you all for allowing me to be part of your family for the summer.⁣
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Thank you for allowing me to mentor your kids both on and off the field.⁣
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I will be forever grateful. ⁣
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I am always a call or text away if you all need anything. ⁣
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Until next time⁣..
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“1,2,3 Impact, hold tight. Stay true”⁣

“𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬, 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐬, 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐭. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐭𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫.”⁣⁣
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Earlier this season we had the opportunity to host the University of Oklahoma at the facility for a practice. ⁣⁣
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They were coming into Atlanta for a midweek series vs UGA.⁣⁣
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They stopped by on the way out to Athens to hit, watch some film, and eat some dinner.⁣⁣
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As the nations top team they were everything you expected from an athletic standpoint. ⁣⁣
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They were strong, they hit balls hard, and they were focused in their film study⁣⁣
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But when I think back to hosting the Sooners, it wasn’t their physical talents that I found most impressive.⁣⁣
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It was the character of the players in the program and the way they carried themselves as people. ⁣⁣
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The team had dinner catered to the facility. ⁣⁣
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We set up tables, put out some folding chairs, and spaced some trash cans out around the cages.⁣⁣
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They ate first, but before they moved on to begin practicing, they cleaned.⁣⁣
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They folded every chair, cleaned up every table, and took out every piece of trash.⁣⁣
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A program that has enough prestige to not raise a finger, did the exact opposite.⁣⁣
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They left the facility cleaner than how they found it.⁣⁣
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And on the way out the door after practice, every player made sure to stop and say “thank you for having us.”⁣⁣
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Yesterday, the softball world watched as the Oklahoma Sooners won the National Championship. ⁣⁣
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But it’s not just the score from yesterday’s game that made this group winners.⁣⁣
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It is character of the people in the program, the examples they set for future generations of female athletes, and the value system this program shares, that makes them winners. ⁣⁣
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Congratulations to the Oklahoma Sooners on their 5th NCAA National Championship. ⁣⁣
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Updated Post:

Last night I wrote a post about Kayla. (You can go check out the whole thing)

Or to summarize it, I cut her from a travel team I was building.

Never once did she complain, at least not in public.

She just let it motivate her.

And worked her ass off.

Last night her and her team, the Valdosta State Blazers punched their ticket to the NCAA DII National Championship Tournament.

After reading the post, she sent me this text message.

Reflecting back on how proud the younger version of herself would be for where she is today. She broke down in tears.

She could have let my decision to cut her, break her career.

Instead she allowed it to motivate her to become a CHAMPION!

I’m so proud her her!

You have raised a special one Kathy & Paul Tosone

“𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐮𝐩”⁣
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I was new to Florida. ⁣
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I didn’t have back stories on any of the kids or the families at the park. ⁣
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My only job was was to build the best travel team I could. ⁣
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I didn’t think you were one of the best kids⁣
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So I cut you from my team.⁣
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I remember calling your family and telling them.⁣
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Your dad and I talked for a while.⁣
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The conversation ended and everything was fine. ⁣
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The phone calls I got in the following days from other families sounded a lot like...⁣
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“I can’t believe you cut Kayla, her and her family grew up in the park. Her dad coaches one of the recreational teams. They are great people. You should have never cut her.”⁣
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Everybody else seemed upset for you.⁣
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You never let it get to you, at least not in public.⁣
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You just let it fuel you.⁣
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For the next 6 months, every night that I was at the park coaching the team, you were in the cage, by yourself, working.⁣
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Eventually you and I had the conversation about why I cut you, where I thought you could improve, and how I thought I could help you.⁣
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You became one of my lesson students.⁣
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Every week we would work in the cage. ⁣
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Your work ethic was unmatched.⁣
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That same determination you had then, is what continues to make you successful now.⁣
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Except now, you’re a regional champion and heading to the NCAA Division II National Championship Tournament. ⁣
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Thanks for never letting anything get in the way of your dreams! ⁣
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I am so proud of you. ⁣

“𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐠𝐞𝐭, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞.”⁣⁣
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So when my students look to me.. ⁣⁣
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My goal is to be able to give them the information they need to be successful ⁣⁣
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Both, In life ⁣⁣
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And in softball⁣⁣
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allows me to provide better information to my athletes about their swing. ⁣
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I’m grateful for that.⁣⁣
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Just like I’m grateful for the kids who continue to look me for information about life and softball. ⁣⁣
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If you have any questions about Blast, how to use it, or what information it provides, do not hesitate to message me. ⁣⁣
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Feel free to use the link in our bio or code MKSB at checkout for $25 off.⁣⁣
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“𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲” ⁣⁣
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We never took the conventional senior day picture last night. ⁣
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But thats only fitting.⁣
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Because, between the injuries, transfers and pandemic, your whole college career has been unconventional. ⁣
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I don’t remember all of the details of our first real conversation we had, but I remember briefly pulling you to the side at practice.⁣⁣
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I think you were frustrated with how you were hitting, or something that was said. ⁣
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I think I tried to calm you down.⁣⁣
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I don’t remember exactly how you took the conversation but it must have went alright. ⁣
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Because it ended up being the first of many that we would share.⁣⁣
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Since that day, many of the conversations we have shared have been about softball.⁣⁣
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But just as many have been about life.⁣⁣
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I have enjoyed them both equally.⁣⁣
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As they honored you yesterday for senior day, they mentioned all of your on field accomplishments from your college career. ⁣
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* Top 10 Finalist for D1 National Freshman of the Year⁣⁣
* USA Softball top 50 player of the year watch list⁣⁣
* First Team All Conference⁣⁣
* Second most hits in NCAA (2020)⁣⁣
* Top 5 batting average in NCAA (2020)⁣⁣
* 2021 Tokyo Olympic Athlete⁣
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But what they didn’t mention was everything you represent off the field. ⁣
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You are one of the most genuine people I know. You make time to care for those around you. Everyday you are determined to wake up a better version of yourself. Your laugh puts everybody in a good mood. ⁣
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As I watched them honor you last night, I was so proud of the player you are.⁣⁣
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But I’m even more person you’re becoming!⁣⁣
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I am excited to see what your future holds. I’m a call away if you need anything !⁣
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Happy Senior Weekend, Tat. ⁣⁣
Love you. ⁣🤙🏽⁣
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“𝗪𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧”⁣
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When I think about why I crossed paths with this group it’s simple..⁣
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We helped each other grow.⁣
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On the field, of course.⁣
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But even more as people.⁣
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These kids were underclassman when I started coaching at Florida International.⁣
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At this point, I feel we have grown up together. ⁣
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Since day one, they welcomed me in and treated me like family. ⁣
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They allowed me to coach them and teach some things about softball. ⁣
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And somewhere along the lines of the plane flights, hotel stays, FaceTimes, and group messages..⁣
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They allowed me to teach them about life.⁣
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I’ve been fortunate enough to be by their side through both some of the highest and lowest moments of their lives.⁣
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But it hasn’t always been me helping them...⁣
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They have helped me too.⁣
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They have helped me become a better coach with the discussions we shared in the cage and the dugout. ⁣
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But even more than that, they have helped me become a better person.⁣
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They taught me how to always work hard towards your goals, never give up when times get hard, and always try to find the positive in life.⁣
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Over the next few months, this group will split up and go different ways with their lives.⁣
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And although they will still have to iron out what the next chapter looks like, I’m certain they will do an incredible job at it. ⁣
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Just as they have done an incredible job representing Florida International University Softball.⁣
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Thank you girls for allowing me to play a small role in your softball journey. I love you all and I’m a call away if you need anything! ⁣
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🤙🏽 My Tribe Forever ❤️⁣