Celebrating My Father

With Father’s Day approaching, Alex MacLean, Certified Instructor, shares a very personal story from which we all can learn.  This one touched us in a special way.  As she anticipates the coming holiday, we will let Alex take it from here:

Often times I am asked what the most important thing is in pitching instruction. Over the past few weeks I’ve come to settle on my answer: relationships. In the end, when you take off your uniform for the last time, the relationships you have formed with your teammates, coaches, and parents through the game are the most important. Today, I remember my relationship with my dad.

It’s not very often that an outsider gets to see a father and his daughter doing “their thing.” I am lucky enough that I get to see it every day during my students’ lessons. It is a sacred 60 minutes, one they would trade for nothing. Being able to coach so many talented athletes has helped me to appreciate my relationship with my dad. Though he is no longer here with me, I feel his presence in my daily life.

My dad, Stephen MacLean, was my number one fan. He never missed a game, and was always right there when I needed someone to pick me up. Every day he would pull into the driveway after work and I would meet him, hand him his glove, and we would throw for an hour. He wanted nothing more than for me to be successful and did whatever he could to help me reach my goals. We spent countless hours taping college softball games and watched them together over and over. I even remember when he had me watch Angela Tincher, who was my height and size. We tried so hard to figure out what she was doing that made her throw so fast. I do not believe it is a coincidence that I am working with Angela’s father now.

On one occasion we arrived to a tournament early. While we were sitting in the car the song “Father and Daughter” by Paul Simon started playing on the radio. He looked over to me and said “Hey Al, this is the song we are going to dance to at your wedding.” There could be no more fitting of a song to describe our relationship.

“I’m gonna watch you shine
Gonna watch you grow
Gonna paint a sign
So you’ll always know
As long as one and one is two
There could never be a father
Who loved his daughter more than I love you”

It is today, Father’s Day, that I celebrate my dad and remember the awesome guy he was. If I didn’t have him by my side the first day I picked up a ball and decided I was going to be a pitcher, I most certainly would not be in the position I am in today. It is because of him that I became the successful pitcher and woman I am today.

There is no greater feeling than seeing a pitcher throw an awesome pitch and watching the dad’s reaction as he catches the ball. I love Saturdays, not because they are my day off, but because my Facebook page and text message inbox blow up with messages from proud dads. Those moments are what make my life so much brighter.

The night before he passed, I went into my dad’s room. I had a tryout earlier that day and I wanted to thank him again for taking me. He pulled me close, put his arm around me and said “I love ya, Al. I am so proud of you”. Those were the final words he ever said to me. I feel they are very fitting, because in all of my lessons I see two things love and pride. I am honored to be a part of that relationship, because it is one that I hold near and dear to my heart.

Today, I celebrate my dad and the legacy he left behind. I remember all of the things he was: dedicated, determined, motivating, and a great role model. As I look at this week’s schedule of lessons I can’t help but smile because I know that I am passing these things onto my students. I feel with that I am passing on a piece of my father.

–Thank you Alex for sharing some very personal thoughts. At Tincher Pitching, we realize the importance of parents in the whole process. Share your thoughts on our Facebook page.