Justin Kaplan, vice president and CFO of Schaeffer Eye Center

By Justin B. Kaplan, an assistant softball coach for the Alabama Saints '06 softball team, a runner and triathlete. He is vice president and CFO of Schaeffer Eye Center.

I start out with a disclaimer...I am Alabama-Auburn neutral. My sister Laura, as well as my wife Brooke and her entire family went to the University of Georgia; my sister Lindsay and most of my family went to the University of Virginia. I will however fully admit (sorry Alabama fans), I was an Auburn fan for the NCAA Women's College Softball World Series. Why you ask? It's quite simple. I spent four years in College at the University of Kansas and three years in law school at the University of Texas, so "Boomer Sooner" is intolerable and makes me sick to my stomach.

I grew up playing baseball. I played competitive baseball from the age of 6 all the way up until my junior year of high school when I gave it up to focus on golf. And the College World Series in Omaha was my favorite sporting event to watch.

I loved watching college baseball... until softball happened.

I remember the moment it happened. About five weeks ago, early on a Saturday morning, I found myself scurrying about the house getting together everything my daughter Edith and I would need for the day's softball tournament. Once the car was packed and ready, I went through the checklist in my head and made sure I had everything. Edith was in the car and I closed the door and headed out. Before I hit the first step I ran back in and grabbed the two pony tail holders I left in the entry way on the table. As I turned around and headed for the door I laughed at the image of myself in the mirror dressed and ready for the day, putting two black pony tail holders around my wrist.

You see, I am fortunate enough to have a nine year old daughter playing 10u travel softball for the Alabama Saints. I had no idea that when we went to tryouts one Sunday evening, our lives were going to change...majorly. I certainly had no idea that it would become such an important part of our family's life. I have a more than full time job, three kids, I am a triathlete. I have no time for softball. Despite that, within a matter of a few weeks, I found myself as one of the coaches on Edith's team. Now, despite everything else going on in our crazy lives, Wednesday nights, Thursday nights, and Saturdays (sometimes Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays also) revolve around softball.

If you didn't watch the Auburn vs. You Know Who championship series last week, I am sorry for you. Quite simply, you missed out on one of the greatest series in any sport ever.

It was an epic battle between two amazing teams. The only nice thing I will say about the team who played Auburn this week is that #8 is a beast. At one point in the final game, I watched her throw four different pitches clocked at exactly 67 mph. One rose. One dropped. One moved inside. And one moved outside. All started out looking the same. All of them traveled at the same speed. Then, she dropped an awesomely nasty and disgusting 54 mph off speed pitch in for a strike. For anyone who has tried pitching or hitting a fast pitch softball, you were blown away watching her. She was dominant, and the amount of talent she possesses is simply unreal.

The series itself was amazing. Game two was epic. Most of you will walk away from this week remembering the walk off grand slam and the absolutely insane catch over the fence in the left field. I don't want to take anything away from those two plays which we will be talking about forever.

For me personally, I will never forget the last 10 pitches of the game.

Courtney Shea, #93, that last at bat, and your reaction afterwards, epitomized everything I love about the game of softball.

You stood in there, in that moment, and battled the best pitcher around. You fouled off pitch after pitch and worked the count to 3-2. Seventh inning, two outs, three balls, two strikes. "Scared" turned to "determined." You got stronger with every swing, and refused to go down.

When that tenth pitch hit your bat, and the ball began traveling on the ground toward the second baseman, I am sure you knew it was over. But you never stopped hustling. You ran through the bag. Chaos ensued. The camera never left your face, and it looked like the first words out of your mouth to your coach were "I'm so sorry." My heart broke.

You have no one to apologize to. You stood in there, and you battled. You refused to go down. I hope that every single one of the twelve girls on my team feels the same way about those last 10 pitches and the last out of that game as I did.

I always tell my girls, "we may get beat, but we will not be out worked." You stood for everything that I love about the game of softball last night. You were the consummate teammate. Your first reaction was to feel like you let your team down. Well I can tell you something...you most certainly did not. Hold your head high and be proud. If I help raise the eleven girls on Edith's team to be softball players like you, I will be able to say, I did a good job.