What a Year it has been for my daughter, Samantha (Manteee). As I look back at her softball season I can see my daughter going through many different moods. She was happy and sad, frustrated and exhilarated. Allow me to elaborate.

Softball season started in April and Manteee's team won their first two games. They looked good gaining wins. She was playing shortstop, getting on base and hitting ok. Then four straight loses seemed to dim her spirit. She stopped hitting, which led to her being frustrated. She told me she was not having fun playing her game.

Then came a 12 game winning streak for the Indian Hills Braves. Whoop dee doo. County ranking improved. The team was having some fun, but my daughter was still not her same old self. Over the year I saw her improve on her overall game. Her fielding range improved as did her base running. But her hitting was not excelling. She was sad. As tough a competitor that she is. Her drive to hit well was getting to her. She would tell me how much she tried and felt bad that she was not succeeding. I felt terrible for her.

Then the New Jersey State Championships. Only the best get into this tournament. Indian Hills was rated third in the State in the Northern one section of Group 2. First game they win 1-0 and she scores the winning run. Second game same results, 1-0 and again she crosses home plate. She goes two for three. Game three against last years champ, Jefferson, goes 18 innings. Manteee knocks in the winning run. She was exhilarated. She was at the top of her game.

And now, the championship game, against Hopatcong, at our home field. We were ranked third and they were ranked fourth. There were more fans for this game than for any game all year. Fans from both schools were screaming, clapping and cheering. I loved playing in these type of games.

It was not to be for us. Indian Hills loses 4-0. We make three errors in one inning. My daughter is heartbroken. I go to her. She buries her head in my chest and cries. She later told my wife that she felt she let the team down.

She had her ups and downs. She knows what she needs to improve upon. Next year cannot arrive too early.