Sometimes I wish....

that I could just wrap my daughter up and protect her from everything....

Last was one of the worst nights in softball ever. When we first got there, I started throwing the ball with LegoQueen to warm her up. The other two girls that were there went over to the field to gossip or do whatever it is that brats do.

When the coach got there, we talked a little bit and he asked me if I thought LQ was up to being the catcher. He said that Hongo throws really hard at her, so he know that LQ could catch the balls, but she is also one of those people where if you tap her its like you tried to beat her. I told him to have her put the gear on, and *I* would pitch to her.
So I help her with the gear, and she was excited about trying that spot out. Well, our normal catcher didn't like it too much and started crying about LQ trying to take her spot. First of all, its not "her spot" and second - the coach wanted better defense in the outfield.
As I was throwing to LQ, she said to me -"I don't think Mollie is happy right now." and I told her that Mollie would have to learn to deal.
LQ didn't stretch with the girls because I was pitching to her, and I noticed that when they came over to start their jog, a few were glaring at her. Nothing new, and LQ never notices that kind of thing, so I let it go.
I was pitching harder and faster, and you could hear the ball whizzing down to LQ. I was waiting for her to complain, but she said she was fine. When the pitcher walked up, I told her that I wanted her to start pitching to LQ to give her an idea of how this pitcher's ball moves.
Well, pitcher couldn't throw a strike and LQ wasn't focused on catching anything that wasn't within her range. Pitcher's dad was yelling at her to stop fooling around and throw strikes. Then another girl shows up in catcher's gear and I told LQ to come with me and let the other girl catch.
I report back to the coach, LQ is a go if he wants her to catch. She will be fine. He hands me the lineup card, and I started filling out the scorebook. I call Hongo and tell him our daughter is going to be catcher and to hurry down to the field. We are excited.
I went to the car to get my camera, and LQ catches my arm and tells me "Mommy, Jackie said that because I am catching, we are going to lose the game."
*sigh*
They said that on Saturday when LQ was pitching too.
So I told her that she knows that isn't true, and that she should go out there and just try her best and not worry about what Jackie says.
I saw Hongo out by the cars and told him "Give your daughter a little pep talk." and gave him a brief summary of what was going on.
By the time I got back, LQ is still talking to Hongo, but with tears in her eyes. All the other girls (except one) were sitting in the grass away from the dugout.
So the coach walked over to LQ and starts to tell her what to do about getting the gear on, and he asked her "What is the matter with you?" and he is totally puzzled. LQ looks at Hongo and starts crying and so Hongo tells the coach what just happened.
When LQ went to go sit in the dugout, all the girls got up and left and some made rude comments about her catching.

I thought the coach was going to burst a blood vessel. He was so pissed off. He yelled at all the girls to get in the dugout and to get their stuff, we were going home. I put the score book away. Parents were wondering what was going on. I was sitting down putting my camera bag away and I heard the coaches daughter tell him "But dad, Julie said she saw a butterfly, and so she told us all to come see the butterfly, so that is why we all got up at the same time."
I caught a deep breath and waited for the coaches reaction. And he told her flatly and calmly, "You know that is not true." and I could hear his voice shaking because his daughter had the nerve to try and lie right to his face and he was trying to keep from going off on her.
So he stood and lectured for a good 10 minutes and gave the girls a good tongue lashing. Hongo was all for going home. Parents were so embarrassed of their girls, and a few apologized to me.
The girls ended up playing, and it meant a few of them had to tell my daughter things like "Good Job" or "Nice Catching" It was so fake.
Hongo was pissed. He was coaching first and he said he didn't say anything to to girls if they reached, with exception to 3 girls. One of them (the co-ringleader) tried to talk to him and he said he just remained silent.
LQ caught well, until her glove busted. Then they had to bring someone else in to catch. After the game I passed out snacks and the coach is holding practice today.
After all the girls left, I went and thanked the coach for sticking up for my daughter. I really appreciated it, Hongo appreciated it.
The pitcher (co-ringleader) came up and interrupted (WHY he lets them constantly do this I don't know, I was always brought up to be respectful and wait my turn to speak) so I was determined to get one last word in.
I told the coach, "Thank you again for what you did, this is an ongoing problem (and I looked STRAIGHT at her) and I am positive it WILL be solved so that all the girls can enjoy the rest of the season.
From the look on her face, I think I got my message across.

I had a hard time sleeping last night. The boldness of these girls appalls me. I am torn between letting her play the season out, or calling it quits right now. I think about next season. Do I ask for her to be redrafted? She really likes her coach right now, and then I run the risk of her being drafted to a worse team. Will she even play next year?
I'm getting a little ahead of myself, I know. We should be taking this one day at a time.
*sigh*