Change of venue

21 days ago

Due to some unforeseen circumstances, it has been a while since I posted anything about the AUSL. With that in mind, I was going to take some time today to get you caught up with all the latest scores in the Athlete's Unlimited Softball League. However, there is something else that I need to get out of the way first, so I will likely push the scores until tomorrow. It shouldn't be too long and my niece will start playing some summer games with the small 18U team they are putting together. It's a way they can keep fresh and in shape during the summer before they head back to university in the fall.

I was having an interesting discussion the other day with my father in law where we were questioning how much ladies at that level actually need to be coached. If they are just playing for fun and they all play for different teams who have different styles, I can see how they might just all show up and do their own thing.

They might have a coach on paper, but I have a feeling it will just be more of a figurehead than anyone actually trying to change anything about their game. They will most likely leave that to the professional coaches.

Speaking of coaches, we found out last week before it was officially official, that the Radford head coach Fagan will be moving to Liberty University. That leaves a great big question mark for our niece about what her future will look like at Radford. The upperclassmen have been doing their best to keep the underclassmen calm and help the adjust to these new changes.

Unfortunately, some players have already entered the portal and one of our nieces close friends has been picked up by Liberty where the former coach went. The good news is, that player played in the same position that our niece is most comfortable with, so it could mean that she will get some more playing time this coming year.

Then again, the new coach might decide to go a totally different way. I'm really sad for our niece. This is a disappointing turn of events for her, but Fagan has family that also coaches at Liberty, and I am guessing the move is tied mostly to that versus any issues at Radford. He had just signed a five year contract at Radford, so I think he was happy.

Change is hard, and this will be an anxious time for all of the players. Many of the ladies had started to form a tight knit group, and this has the potential to throw everything into chaos for a bit. Both on and off the field. I'll be thinking of our niece quite bit through this process and hoping the best for her.