SAN DIEGO

We just got back from a four day trip to beautiful San Diego - and we certainly know our way around that place now!

Our reason for going - following Parker to the Olympic training facility in Chula Vista. He was to spend three days at a camp/tryout for the USA Jr. Mens National Fastpitch Softball Team - yes that's right - there is a men's fastpitch softball team. They compete every two years on an international level. Parker will more than likely be included in the 2014 cycle in Canada.

He is a pitcher. How did he get into this? You can credit/blame his sister. He has been to more softball practices, games, tournaments than a normal 15 year old. He started entertaining himself by watching the pitchers and their windups. He became self taught - throwing tennis balls against fences, walls, anything. He threw and threw and threw! Last year we found a pitching coach - a legend named Pete Meredith. Pete hooked Parker up with a Men's team in the summer and apparently with the USA Mens coach.

Parker traveled with 3 other kids from Utah - we took a different flight. He was a little stressed when he realized that he had to go through security on his own, find the gate on his own, transfer planes in Phoenix and meet people he had never met before. There were players from Utah, California, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Texas and Oklahoma. Some were 15 years old like Parker - some were 19 years old! He survived. He had a great time. He felt pretty good about being there. He knows he has a lot of work to do and a lot of things to improve on. But what a great experience for him. He had a roommate he had never met - he ate at his fair share of "buffets" (where else do you take a bunch of young men) - he got free shirts and a cool hat and official credentials.

Way to go Parker!