Tairia Flowers :: Blog

there is a vote this October in Denmark to get softball back into the Olympic games for 2016.  As of now, they are planning to possibly add at least two sports and it is between us, baseball, rugby, golf, motorcross and karate.  We definitely have a chance.  However, we need to do all that it takes to help.  I am serving as an Ambassador for Back Softball which will be the group in Denmark pleading the case to the IOC.  As for American support, this list is specifically how they need our help: http://www.internationalsoftball.com/backsoftball/Flyer.pdf.  The goal is to spread the word in these next critical months by having as many people as possible do as much as they can from this list.  As you will see, it can be as simple as going onto their site on Facebook or watching their You Tube video to spreading the word or donating money to the campaign.  We need to go into that meeting with NUMBERS, showing how many clicks You Tube and Facebook got (this is the day we live in now), showing the amount of people supporting this sport.    So basically on this link there are 7 things that you can do to show your support. The last 7 on the list. If you have the time this would be great. Thanks,Tairia

Hello everyone. I know I have been MIA but after the olympics it was time for me to take a break. I think I’m fully recovered:) I still wake up thinking about the games and what I would have changed about them. Mostly my at-bats…but it is few and far in between. I am back on the coaching trail and we have been playing quite a few scrimmages this fall and are gearing up for another successful season. Natasha and I are working a clinic this weekend in Sacramento and we hope to see any of you in the area out on the field. Other than that things are going well and I will make sure I do a better job of keeping you all posted on what’s going on. Until then…Tairia 

We have been on the road for almost 4 weeks. Today is
our last day and game before we head home tomorrow. It has been long and a little tiring trip but I can’t think of any other “job”, if you can call it that, that I would rather have right now. Yes we have played in 9 different states since we’ve been on the road and bused who knows how many hours…but it definitely leaves us time for team bonding, sleep, and catching up on our movies…which I love. We sometimes feel like we are experiencing  dejavu , again and again, but what other type of day would u want. Day after day we get to play the game we love with people we love while preparing to play on the largest stage our sport has to offer. I love my life! Keep cheering on the red the white and the blue.

So Yesterday was our first and only full day off that we will have on this 4 week trip we are on. We had a great day! much needed. We are old and breaking down these days:) just kidding. But we definitely made sure we rested. Natasha Watley is my roommate on the road so our day consisted of sleeping in until about noon, but never actually left the room until 1 pm. We walked over to a near by restaurant and picked up brunch:) Came back to the room to watch a little tv, checked emails and hung out. Later in the day chef boy- o - Bustos cooked up some meat, a little beans and rice with some tortillas and chips and salsa. It was awesome. Jennie’s uncle parked his motor home on the side of the hotel and we cooked and hung out in the motor home and lawn chairs. So great, and to top it off the pool area was awesome. A huge slide, 3 basketball hoops, a kiddy pool and jacuzzi…we spent a few hours or more just relaxing with our teammates. That’s when it’s nice knowing that you not only have the greatest teammates in the world but you are traveling good friends as well. At night I spent some time talking to my husband through our i cams and finished the night with a movie, which is one of my favorite things. It was an awesome day. Back on the grind this morning though, we just finished optional hitting and ground balls and are getting ready to get after it in the game tonight. So hopefully you are keeping track of our progress and we will see you soon. Go for the Gold! ”Some friends come around because you can help them. Some come around because they can help you. The best friends stay around for both reasons”. 

The team is on a 4 week trip playing a combination of professional, international, and all-star teams. We have had some close and not so close games within the last week. I know everyone thinks that we are winning and just rolling over the competition, but we are all working on something at every moment whether it is our speed, leads off the bases, fielding, new pitches or hitting. The last being the most difficult…according to me:) Defense has been my strong point ever since I was young, but I work hard to be consistent on my offense. Hitting as so many players know comes and goes. If you get out 4 of 10 at bats then you are considered a great hitter. But on the flip side you “failed” 6 times!!! It can drive you crazy. Take it from me I know better than anyone, you have your good days and your bad days. Sometimes I feel like I’ve never swung a bat before in my life and other days it is as natural breathing. The goal is to minimize the bad days. Don’t over analyze and harp over every aspect of your swing. I have been there too. Maybe it’s my hands, maybe it’s my timing, maybe I should pre stride or not, or maybe I need to change my swing all together. Work on things in practice if you are struggling, but in the games you gotta zone out and just see the ball hit the ball. Keep working hard and don’t let your mind get in the way:)Have confidence and remember when you show up to the field:  ”Your perfect swing is the best one you can make today. It can be improved later through more learning and practice, but right now it’s the best one you’ve got. It’s the one you brought with you…” ( Zen Golf- Dr. Joseph Parent). So no worries and let it happen. Buy in to your plan and jump in with both feet. So for now good luck and remember even olympians struggle too.  The difference between the good and the great is how quick you bounce back.