As a 20-year veteran of the United States Marine Corps and on my second year working at FA BOLC-B at Fort Sill, I know that training often takes a front seat to our personal lives. Balancing the two has gotten better with retirement and contracting with ASMG has allowed me to continue my involvement with the artillery community while also spending more time with my family.
After serving in the fleet, deployments for OIF, OEF, and multiple MEUs, the PCS move from Lejeune to Fort Sill in December of 2017 felt like any other duty station. I was completely unaware of the bonds and community ties our family would begin to form here. My three daughters, Simone (20), Gillian (19), and Isabella (15) were growing up fast. As they entered middle school and eventually high school, they engaged in a multitude of extracurricular activities. I still remember the nights when all three girls had softball games at different locations. The chaos of getting everyone out the door and where they needed to be on time was like herding a platoon of junior Marines.
For a single season, softball dictated every minute of our lives, until our older two gave up their cleats for other ventures. However, my youngest daughter Isabella found an undeniable love for softball. It started in elementary school when she played recreational softball organized by Fort Sill Children and Youth Sports. We saw the spark come alive when she volunteered to play any position the coach needed to fill. She would play catcher, outfield, first base, and eventually she was put on the mound as pitcher.
After six years of softball, Isabella has been the primary pitcher for her middle and high school teams. In the summer of 2022, she started getting really competitive as she bridged into high school. I took on a more active role helping her practice new pitches, driving her to lessons and talking about strategy. Even though I did not play baseball in my youth it was (and continues to be) a great bonding experience.
As she is currently entering her high school junior year, travel softball has had a huge impact on both our lives. Gearing up for college scouts and possible scholarships while keeping the love of the game as priority. In Oklahoma, softball isn’t a “seasonal” sport. Girls are on the field competing or practicing year-round. Evolution-Ohana is a 16U team comprised of twelve young ladies from OKC, Moore, Duncan, and Yukon who are graduating class of 2027 or 2028.
Isabella played for a younger team within the Evolution organization and filled empty spots during tournaments before she tried out with Ohana last Fall. The Ohana family is more than just a team. These ladies (and parents) cheer each other on through victories, slumps, injuries, and academics. Ohana is a true traveling team tackling a list of tournaments in Texas, Kansas, and Oklahoma, traveling for highly competitive tournaments and college camps.
Majority of travel teams like Ohana host a variety of fundraisers to offset the cost of tournament fees, umpires, practice facilities, and uniforms. Local businesses are saturated with teams trying to raise funds and have begun turning people away or only allowing so many events per quarter. I asked the coaching staff if they would consider allowing parents to ask companies to sponsor the team. Coaches were skeptical after previous years’ attempts hadn’t come to fruition, but they were open to the possibility.
Hope is all I needed to hear before reaching out to our Employee Engagement Team (EET) here at AMSG. And after numerous e-mails between the EET, Evolution coaching staff, and myself compiling all the details…it finally happened! The team had an official sponsor!
The relief and comfort of knowing the hard work these ladies were putting in during practice and games was going to be matched by a company that cares so much about community was overwhelming. It’s funny to note that the parents were happier and more ecstatic over the news of the sponsorship, than the players were. They will never know the things we as parents would give up for them. It’s a huge weight lifted off our shoulders and a calming serenity knowing they can continue to do what they love without financial burden. From the Musselman’s and all the Evolution – Ohana family: we thank you for investing in our future.
Written by: Terrill Musselman
-
- A softball player and an adult pose for a photo after a game.
-
- A young softball player and an adult pose for a photo at the baseball field.
-
- Poster for Isabella Musselman, highlighting her achievements as an All-District pitcher for the Eagles.
-
- A young softball player gets ready to hit.
-
- The Evolution Fastpitch softball team poses for a group photo.
-
- A softball player gets ready to pitch the ball during a game.
-
- A young batter prepares to hit the ball during a softball game.
-
- A softball team stands together on their field, showing team spirit.
-
- Softball player Isabella Musselman prepares to bat during a game at Fir Lake Ballfields.
-
- Three young teammates pose on the grass with their softball equipment.
-
- A softball player prepares to step up to the plate during a game.
-
- A batter connects with a pitch during a softball game.
-
- A young supporter with a handmade sign shows their enthusiasm for the Lady Vikings Softball team
-
- A coach and young players gather with an umpire on the infield of a softball field.
-
- A young individual stretches next to a white pickup truck at a gas station on a sunny day.
-
- A softball player with a bright smile holds a softball before a game.