Eric Holen

Yvette and I have been attending softball games at the University of Texas since 2002 and have been season ticket holders since 2003.

This season started differently and ended with even more emotion, at least for us, compared with the previous years. It started off with a phone call from Amy Hooks, our catcher, in the fall of 2009. She was asking if we would be renewing our tickets, which of course we were.

The first game kicked off on February 12 with us playing DePaul, whose assistant coach is Cat Osterman a former UT and Olympic softball pitcher. We won that game and the next 10 straight games before losing our next game to a ranked team.

Our starting pitcher was Blaire Luna, from Austin. Being a local girl, just added to the excitement of the game.

Throughout an incredible season, our girls kept dropping records as they fought to a 43-15 finish. For the season, they hit 88 home runs a new record, with Courtney Craig scoring 13 of those home runs.

In the middle of the season, we managed to upgrade our seats so that we were sitting on the third row. We were so much closer to the action. However, an expected benefit to the move is that we got to meet the players’ parents. We even bought two much coveted t-shirts from one of the parents. In all, we got to talk with 5 or 6 of the girls’ parents. We also met a new group of “softball” friends who were more than happy to share everything they knew about the team.

Meeting the parents and talking with them throughout the second half of the season, got us more emotionally involved in the game. However, that emotional attachment meant that we really felt the final loss in the NCAA regional that prevents us from moving on to the World Series.

It was a wonderful season, and while we were side to see it end so early, Yvette and I are already looking forward to fall ball and the 2011 season.

Today started like many other Saturdays, but even without plans, Yvette and I agreed that it turned into a wonderful day.

We had stayed up a little late, by our standards, Friday evening to watch a UT “fall ball” softball game in Austin. The game was good, with the Longhorns winning 7-0. We had a great time sitting with two of our “softball” friends that we have known for the last few years. It was a double header, but Yvette and I called it an early evening due to the chill in the air and her still getting over being sick.

This morning, after sleeping in a little, we worked together to make omelets and clean up the kitchen. Then it was off to the Wild West Fest in Dripping Springs. We had intended to go just so Yvette could look at some jewelry, but ended up staying all afternoon to watch a “ranch rodeo”.

The ranch rodeo had four teams each with four members, all on horses. They participated in a series of five events ranging from “separation”, where they had to separate four calves from the herd, “trailering” where they had to get a steer in the trailer and then all four team members had to squeeze into the cab of a regular pickup truck, and “riding the hide” where a team members were dragged across the corral behind a horse.

When the rodeo was done, Yvette purchased her jewelry and then we starting thinking about dinner. We had been smelling the BBQ cooking all afternoon while watching the rodeo; however, it was not going to ready for another 90 minutes.

After pondering our choices, we decided to catch dinner at The Salt Lick in Driftwood. Having always gone with a group, we expected a wait, but since it was just the two of us, the seated us immediately. While we had enjoyed the “family platter” in the past, with all you can eat meats and sides, today we opted for the regular plates, which still had more than enough food. Against our better judgment, but to our stomach’s delight, we finished off dinner by sharing a blackberry cobbler, a la mode.

The only downside for the day was the postponement of the Yankees/Angels game. Yvette was looking forward to the Yankees finishing off the series. We will just have to wait until Sunday. On the upside, we did get to watch UT best Missouri in football.

It’s days like today, spending time with my wife, that remind me how much I love her and our 12 years of marriage.

In my last Monday Mash, I mention the sunburn that I received at Saturday’s and Sunday’s Texas Longhorn softball games. Here is the proof. Note the big red patch from the back of the baseball cap. I have a similiar but light patch on the front of my head when I turned my cap around so that the bill would protect my neck.

The sunburn did not hurt much, until I shaved my head Monday morning, but I did feel a litle sick Sunday evening.

Wednesday evening, Yvette and I were at a University of Texas (UT) women’s softball game versus Baylor.  During the game, which we eventually lost, I started thinking about ”circles of friends”.  We all have our circles, with some friends crossing one or more of circles.  For Yvette and me, some of our circles include work friends, Kyle Fire friends, camping friends, and church friends.

One interesting group is our softball friends.  These are fellow season ticket holders that sit around our seats at home games.  Most of us have been sitting in the same seats for at least the past six years.  We look forward to seeing each other and miss them when the do not make a game.  We know each other’s habits; for example, when I start cruising the Internet on my phone at about the fourth inning.  We know who will be vocal about the umpire’s calls, the woman with the white hair in the picture is the loudest, and who will enjoy the game quietly.  We all jump up and down when they start throwing t-shirts and stuff into the crowds.  We are happy when they win and sad when they lose.

Yvette and I have known our softball friends for years; however, we do not know any of their names.