So to say this was just any ol' session would be a lie.
I've often said in regards to East Marshall seniors that I've watched them grow up before my eyes. And besides my own daughter, there couldn't be a more accurate statement in describing Mariah Hope Fritz.
It's not just a cliche'. I've been there. From the very beginning. And then some.
I went to college with Mariah's folks. So when Papa Brian and Mama Diana came to Marshalltown to begin their married lives and professional careers... they thought they recognized that goofy looking dude from Central one afternoon at Great Clips in the Marshalltown Mall. Dr. Fritz asked his stylist if she knew who I was after I had left... and the next thing you know, I get a phone call from the young chiropractor that evening.
Not close friends in college, that would soon change. The similarities were many. Young business owners, same college, similar interests in sports and wives that were expecting our first children.
A few months later in the middle of March of 1997... Mariah was born. We were so excited for them as we were walking with them nearly step by step in our parallel lives with our friends.
Just over two months later, it was our turn, and once our Breanna May was delivered, we had yet one more thing in common...
Daughters.
Two more children were added to both families' rosters before both Brian and I were forced to sit on a bag of frozen peas and the stories between our troops are too many to tell in this forum. The vacation to Disney... the dinners out... the ballgames... the sleepovers... the hillbilly tendencies. :)
My wife and I were even entrusted with Mariah's care when they rushed to the hospital to deliver sister Maci Joy a couple of years later. We were there when Mariah met her lifetime sibling sidekick for the first time.
So it's not hard to tell... that I might be just a little more emotionally attached to this senior than most.
I've told her many times that she's my second daughter... and in her always smiling bubbly way... she beams and says, "Thanks Dad Number Two."
Truth is, Dad No. 1 along with his wife have to be extremely proud of this brown eyed girl. Most know her as East Marshall's All-State pitcher. And while that would be accurate... it wasn't always that way.
The 5-foot-4 little powerpack has never been the biggest gal. In fact... she was always the smallest spitfire... and yet coaches kept putting the ball in her hands. We were all there when this current group of 3-time state tournament qualifiers were getting woodshed beatings back in 4th and 5th grade. In fact, Mr. Woodshed called... and even he thought we were needing another category to describe the whoopins we were taking.
So what happened along the way?
I'll tell you what happened. That little undersized gal in purple had something beating in her chest that could not be measured. She went to work. Repetition after repetition. Day after day.... week after week... month after month... year after year.
*whirl*... *snap*
*whirl*... *snap*
*whirl*... *snap*
Windmill deliveries by the thousands ending with the pop of the mitt. This girl was going to MAKE herself into that name that everyone recognizes around these parts. And somehow after watching that motor-never-stops two year old sprinting around our house in circles, I wasn't in the least bit surprised that she's turned that energy into focus... and that focus into results.
While she may not have been the most physically gifted young lady, she has the heart of a champion a work ethic that very few have, and a willingness to sacrifice to attain her goals. Add in a group of teammates that refuse to lose... some great consistent coaching and a wonderful parental support system... and you see that the success has been no accident.
Put Mariah in that pitching circle... and that perpetual smile fades away and she turns into a dark brown eyed assassin. Her grit and determination are unmistakable, and I'll tell you this. Once your foot is in the box... you better be ready, because she isn't messin' around. She's bringing the heat, and more times than not, you'll be taking three hacks and taking a 180 and returning to the dugout.
In an era that seen her high school struggle mightily in many of its team sports, softball has been rock solid and elite, and no one has had a bigger hand in the program's rich history of success being restored in recent years.
Naturally then, we had to highlight the softball scene for Miss Fritz on her larger than life Rockstar Session that she signed up for. And just like her attention to detail with her pitching craftsmanship, I had plenty of input on how to best showcase that in images as well. Pair that up with her pseudo-Pops and a healthy mutual love for all things Mariah and Mustangs... we were in our wheel house on this day. Add in about ten outfits, sun up to sun down coverage and a trip to Holiday Lake and I can tell you this... It was a good thing the girl has a high motor... because her mom and I were definitely GASSED at the end of the day. (Ain't gettin any younger, are we, Di?)
I know that Mariah and her family have been understandably waiting patiently for these images to finally surface. And the truth is, that even if this weren't a Rockstar Session, I would feel a strong sense of bending over backwards for this gal. She's as good as it gets... inside and out... and just like when my own girl graduates here in a few months, it's gonna be really difficult not having her around all the time.
Riah, Roo, Fritty or even just "M"... the girl has more nicknames than Sean Combs. But regardless of what you call her, one constant remains. She's a wonderful young lady, and I'm glad her folks saw me at Great Clips that day 18 years ago... it's been a wonderful ride, and I'm glad you've been on our team the whole way. Love ya, MaRoo.... Daughter Number Two. :')
No comments:
Post a Comment