I was attending yet another softball game in LeGrand when the NICL's two most storied programs, East Marshall and BCLUW were locking horns once again.
I brought my camera this time because I had noticed something special was rounding into form.
Most folks know I'm an East Marshall alum... it's where I've always lived... my kids attend there, it's who we are.
That being said, through a little research and having my ear to the ground, I took notice that the team on the other side of the diamond was worthy of my support.
Why?
Because they were supporting me... In spades.
A quick spin around the diamond saw Stewart Photography seniors to be at first base (#35 Danielle Montgomery), second base (#33 Abby Miller), shortstop (#06, Courtney Amundson) and third base (#12 Maddie Olson).
I can't lie... I thought that was really cool.
But it didn't stop there. Behind the dish sat a Stewart Photography supporter that was a year away from HER senior session in Sarah "Bug" McCoy (#34 for those of you scoring at home). Sarah's older sister, Shannon, had come our way and her family is high on the short list of folks that the Stewarts consider close personal friends. McCoy still tells her pops (who's friends with the author of this blog dating back to high school) that her photographer is "famous." He vehemently disagrees telling his step-daughter that "he ain't nuthin' special." (I'll let Bug keep on living the lie on this one.)
So, that leaves just one position left on that Comet infield... pitcher.
Firing it from the circle that night was none other than Nicolette Simpson... #22. Just a freshman at the time, Miss Simpson had the unenviable task of replacing out-of-this-world, all-stater, Gatorade Player of the Year, Jamie Fisher, who had put an exclamation on a storybook career the season before with the second of back-to-back state championships for the girls in black-n-gold.
While filling those type of shoes is a task that could make some crumble, Nic has performed admirably, becoming one of the area's best in helping pilot the Comets to their usual perch at, or near the top of the NICL West in each of her three seasons at the varsity level.
The good news for me was that I had already put my best foot forward in winning over number twenty-two.
Older brother Logan was in for his senior images earlier that June back in 2011. I think I may have surprised Mama Jennifer with the fact that I was already aware of who her freshman daughter was. (I do my homework folks... must be the old reporter in me). So when Jennifer came to pick up Logan's finished order, she brought someone with her that I just had to meet.
With a smile as wide as she was tall, and the fact she had plenty of freckles to fittingly punctuate her sassy personality, Nicolette bounced in the front door and extended her hand to greet me. (McCoy musta told her I was famous) ;)
Another friendship was born, and I knew then that when the Comets came to town the next time... I would be there... camera in hand... photographing the young ladies that had my back.
Fast forward to this summer. It was finally Nic's chance to take a swing in Montour, and I am happy to report that she hasn't lost that charismatic grin, nor the freckles.
We bounced all over Tama County capturing her in everything from a country dress-n-boots to an up town jacket-n-jeans. We dodged the raindrops (at one time shooting in dusk-like-darkness before it DUMPED on us as we ran for cover), but we got it all in before saving the best for last... Sports of course!
A sprinter/hurdler in track, and a setter in volleyball, Nic does a little of everything. But let's be honest, if this girl is known for one thing... it's her pitching. There would be no doubt then, what I was going to finish with. And as she pulled on that jersey one more time, suddenly after all the girlie frills and fuss, she looked back at home.
Script "Comets" across her chest and the double deuce on her back, it was time to execute what she came for... the finishing touches on a killer sports collage that would be worthy of an all-stater.
As with most of my sports collage work, smiles are banned from the camera room at that time. Looking B.A. is what it's all about at that point, but as I shot the final image... the one you see in the center of Nicolette's collage, I felt like something was missing after nearly 150 exposures on the day. So I caved, and asked her to smile one more time.
Click.
My trip around the entire infield was complete.
Happy 4th of July everybody!
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