Here they come...
Just like their nickname suggests... like a fireball in the sky... the Comets are coming.
One after another... and it it won't be just once every 75 years.
Everyone that knows me well knows where I live... where i went to school... where my family continues to make its home... where my children now get their education.
That being said. It cannot be denied.
There's mad love for our studio in Cometville.
And the feeling is mutual.
BCLUW has become our home-away-from-home over the past decade or so and the story within the story can be found in the form a diamond.
A softball diamond.
Sure... we've had plenty of solid football players... track standouts... baseball stars and hoop heroes... but our connection with the girls throwing around the yellow ball in the heat of the summer is clear.
With no less than seven starters off the now legendary two-time state championship squads that even the biggest BCLUW haters had to respect... it became difficult for this studio owner to not become a closet fan. Now that those girls have moved on... I was afraid it may have been just a flash in the pan... a passing fancy.
Wrong.
I showed up to candidly photograph the North Iowa Cedar League West game in LeGrand a few weeks ago to capture the three seniors that were coming my way from my alma mater...... and one quick glance around the field with almost an entirely new cast of Comets told me this...
The entire infield was already in our hip pocket.
First, second, third, short... catcher... and pitcher...... all supporters.
Hard not to love that.
So, I've got my work cut out for me, for sure. They've seen my act... yet they still keep coming in droves.
First up this season was none other than No. 33.... second baseman.... Abby Miller.
Somehow, the last of the infield to contact me (i was worried... not gonna lie) ended up being the "leadoff batter" at our studio.
To say she did her job by igniting the lineup at the top of the order would be an understatement. With her best friend and steady third baseman Maddie Olson at her side the entire way... we weren't satisfied with a mere slap hit or bunt to get it goin'... it was spinning on our heels and swinging for the fences right out of the gate.
Sure it was hot.... and yes... Abby did make a sacrifice of sorts by showing up three and a half hours early to try to beat the excruciating heat the afternoon would bring... but the results tell the story.
Touch 'em all, Miss Miller... you just hit it out of the park.
Fighting all the heat and humidity became secondary on this day because Abbz, Mad and Mama Diane were having too much fun. Through the tell-all source of facebook... I had gathered that Maddie had grown particularly fond of calling her pal, "Scabby" instead the name her mother gave her.
I asked why this was the case... even though I was somewhat afraid of knowing the answer.
The former reporter in me needed to know.
Turns out that a tragic flattening iron mishap burned Abby's mouth a few weeks back. And before you ask how this could happen.... take one look at the length of hair on this gal... and just understand that nothing is impossible. :)
So... the burn... and eventual scab hear her lip..... earned her the loving moniker from her teammates and those that know her best.
I shouldn't have asked.
The good news is that she's clearly healed... and better yet... she now wears the nickname like a badge of honor.
The day was just epic... lots of laughter just like image three below...... We made yet another road trip in another summer dominated by roadies that allowed Diane and I to not only rip an ease-trough off a building..... but we also toured of a local pub... had plenty of sweat dabbing.... but more than anything else we made insane images of our Scabby.
Several more Comets are lined up... but the start could not have gone better.
Thanks Team Miller.
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