Maile Keeney (left) is a three-year letter winner for Barry University. She has been an offensive leader for the Bucs over the last three seasons posting a career .316 batting average. This year, she has posted career highs in batting average, home runs, and RBI. She also earned First-Team All-SSC honors at third base this year.

Saturday, May 13, 2006 - Today our season ended, but we're not looking at it as a loss, but rather as a learning experience. We did put up a true fight until the end. The first game we came out with determination and fire. Everyone was on top of their game. We played as a team, fought like a team, and won as a team. When we've played this way, it has brought us success throughout the year. Playing later in the day, we suffered our second loss of the tournament to Valdosta State, which ended our run toward our goal of being National Champions.

This season has been a true test of our ability, talent, and heart. We were a team that was supposed to go nowhere and we rose above everyone's expectations to be ranked 10th in the nation and 2nd in region. This is a tremendous accomplishment. I feel this tournament has taught us more than the whole season combined and I am grateful we had the opportunity to be apart of it. This surely will help our team in coming years. Sitting around talking to some of the girls who were upset, the advice I gave them was: if you tried your hardest and are happy with the way you played, that is all you could do. They did their best and I am proud of them. We live and learn from this as well as other experiences.

To the seniors: All of you have played roles that will be hard to replace. You have taught us so many things about ourselves and your impact will live on in this program forever. For the rest of our team: We have now been here and know what to expect. When we play together as a team, we are one of the most talented teams I have ever been apart of. Keep working hard and we will go far toward becoming National Champions!

Friday, May 12, 2006 - Today, we played Alabama-Huntsville and fell into the loser's bracket. We didn't bring our game or the willpower to win. We knew they were a good team heading into the game, but we felt we could have won if we brought our "A" game. It hurts bad, but we have to keep our heads up if want to continue in the tournament.

It was great to see fan support from many of our families. Even some of the baseball players, Eric Flynn, Jon Adams and Andrew Frezza came to support the team. They have so much faith in us. They have supported us from day one and I would like to thank every single one of them. Even the fans and families that could not make it to the tournament are rooting us on by listening to the broadcast wondering about the outcome of each and every game. You guys are wonderful!

Thursday, May 11, 2006 - Today we played our first game in the regional tournament. It was scheduled for 1:30, but due to the extra inning game between Alabama-Huntsville and St. Leo, we did not get started till after 3:00. After our warm-up, we were so pumped because we wanted to beat Valdosta State, because we already had two losses from them earlier in the year. After sitting I can tell our demeanor changed about the game. With a pitching duel till the sixth inning, Ashley (left) led off with a walk. I was sitting on deck thinking, “we need to score and I need to get a hit.” When Ashley stole second while I was up to bat, I knew I needed to come through. I was just missing the center of the ball and I knew I was due. “Just get a hit, just get a hit,” was going through my mind as the pitch arrived. Yes! I hit the ball up the middle. Running to first, Nikki tells me to go. Laughing in my head, I can not believe she wanted me to go. Without pausing, I breeze into second easily and Ashley scores the first run of the game. Yes, we broke the tie. Defense time in the 7th inning. Ali and Jackie made outstanding defensive plays to help us win our first regional game. I'm glad we got the first one out of the way.

Later in the night, Athletic Director, Mike Covone treats us to dinner at Chili’s. It was so funny to see how crabby our team can get if we do not have food in our system. After we stuffed our faces, we are allowed to get dessert. After being the so called fatties that we are, it is time to drive home and go to bed.

Wednesday, May 10, 2006 - Today, we went to Florida Southern to practice at their field at our allotted time of 11:30 am, as does every team in the tournament. Since we only had an hour, we went early to do our stretching and throwing out at the “grassy knoll” as some would call it. Since we finished early and we still are not allowed out on the field, Ali and I start messing around throwing pitches. Since she has not pitch since last year, it was funny watching her attempt at throwing different pitches. Her screw ball was going the wrong way and her curve was so flat. We were laughing so hard remembering old days. Then we start joking about Kim’s ERA of 28.00 last year. When it was our turn to take the field, we bobbled some groundballs, so Penner told us to get a drink. Katie gave us a speech to help us came down and remember our fundamentals. After we went back out onto the field, we did well; we played like we knew how. During BP, Ramie hit one out and she had the cutest shocked-looked face I have ever seen. After we get on the bus, the radio clipped two songs. One was mine and Holli’s (right) song and then the second clip was a song Cristina and I call out. Dinner was a blast. After dinner, some people decided to play our favorite game -- hacky sack. We were playing 1, 2, 3 hit and Jackie threw the hackie and almost hit someone. When we arrived back to the hotel, Kim, Holli and I were watching the Yankee-Boston game in their room. Holli then asked if they were playing in LA because she thought that is where the Yankees are from. It was so funny; we will never let her live that down

Tuesday, May 9, 2006 - Today, we left and started our journey. Prior to loading the bus, tons still needed to be done. We had to get all the equipment ready, pack our uniforms, get all the coolers set and get all the laundry bins. While organizing the coolers, it is amazing how many snacks we have. If someone did not know us, you would think we were hungry every minute of the day. Our coaches love us and never want us to be hungry or starving. As the bus trip starts, we pop in the movie Family Stone. As always some watch and some sleep. Dinner stop at 7:00 pm at Applebees. During dinner, I see Amber (left) wipe off her phone. She ended up dropping it in the sink, but no one is surprised because it’s Amber. After dinner, we pop Ellen in the DVD player and watch her stand-up. Everyone on the bus is cracking up. Watching with everyone makes it ten times funnier. Late in the night, we arrive at our hotel in Lakeland. The rooms are nice and big. When I get settled and turn my computer on I see that Ramie, Shy, Ash and I made the All-SSC team. Congrats to all of them and I am so proud. As I am proud of our whole team because everyone has played a part in this teams’ success and we would not be where we are with out them.

Monday, May 8, 2006 - Today, we found out that we play Valdosta State in the first round. Also, today was our last practice before we leave to go to the regional tournament. It ended in a fun way. We did defense and offense but incorporated music into both. We listen to country, hip hop and coach’s Canadian music. When it was the offense part of practice, we decided to play a game. Each class (senior, junior, etc.) competed how many bags they got when they hit the ball. Hah, juniors came out on top. After practice, we discussed what we need to bring and coach suggested that we can not wear anything we our belly shows, well Cristina (right) chimes in with, “how about our mini-skirt?” as a joke, but coach said sure. With all of us laughing, even Nikki and Kacey, coach did not understand. She said, “you know your old when you think a mini-skirt means to the knees!” It was so typical of her. Then when they asked for special request for our snacks, people were chiming in left and right and then Katie yells filet mignon. Silence emerged and then laughter followed. Our team is nuts but I love them.

Later in the night, a lot of us hung out with the baseball boys since most of them were leaving the next day. It was sad to see the seniors go because of the bond that we had with their team this year. It was one of the first and I think it was great how much support we gave each other.

Sunday, May 7, 2006 - After a day off, everyone is anxious to get back to work. The sun still beams, but its okay because coach says “we used to this and some teams will not be.” Coach Penner (Nikki Fielder left, Danielle Penner right) still thinks she’s old, but she can sure throw. As we face batting practice off of her, some hit her and some didn’t. She gets a kick if she “takes us down” as she puts it. We laugh because her movement is wicked. That is probably why she was the best pitcher to go through Division II. After practice, we wait to hear about what teams will be in the regional tournament. We know we’re in but do not know who we will face. Only time will tell. Our team does not care because we have the confidence to beat anyone in the country.

Saturday, May 6, 2006 - Today was a pretty relaxed day. No practice, just graduation. Also, today was the men’s tennis team championship match. They played amazingly. Everyone did what they had to do to win. They played their hearts out till the last point. Since Eckerd tied the series up 4-4, that last person had to win for them to go on. The match was so intense and Roman did not give up even though some things did not go his way. Wow, the energy he put into it. I wish our team was there to see them compete.

Friday, May 5, 2006 - Since all my classes were done and practice was not until later, I decided to go watch our women’s tennis team play in the regional championship. Their attitude, play, and team support did not change even though it was such an important match. They played like they have played all year and did not let the pressure get to them. They won, winning every match they played in.

Practice once again was very hot. Since Coach Penner and Nikki were recruiting, Kacey (right) ran practice. We did some defense and then hitting. In this practice, I learned a lot about myself. If we are suppose to do something and then it gets changed, my mind set gets messed up. I focused in on batting practice and then one of our pitchers came to throw right as I got up. She started throwing my pitches. I was mad because I had no time to prepare mentally for the task ahead of me. In result, I failed in my task and hit really bad.

Later in the night our team went to support in Kim’s (left) art opening. It was for her senior project and it was awesome. The team will do anything for each other and I love that.

Thursday, May 4, 2006 - Today my freedom bell rang as I finished my exams. Excitedly, the first thing I do is return my books. Wow…I got $108.75 back for three books. I am so thrilled. But, then I realize I have to pay my credit card bill. Since 97% of stress is gone and all that left is practice, I can focus of what I need to do. Practice was one of the hottest days of the year. Running around station to station, I tried to roll my shorts a bit to tan my white legs. Since Thursdays we do all our hitting drills, coach decided to let us play this game to relieve some tension. Laughter is displayed through out the end game because the losers of the game had to spin around the bat and then do the worm. Katie (right) is just flopping around like a fish out of water.

After practice, I decided to go to dinner with Heather, our trainer and a former teammate, Brittany (left), and Jackie (lower right) We drive to Davie to go to our favorite restaurant, Sonny’s Bar-B-Que. To continue our redneck night as we call it, we all jam to our favorite country songs. As we get there, we tell a funny story which happened another time we went. Shyla had asked our waiter for some more water and he replied with, “sorry, we ran out” so she continued to order another drink beside water. To this day, we still can not get over that. Since it is Heather’s birthday, we come back after we were stuffed and have some Carvel Ice Cream Cake. Yum, Yum!!!. I kick into my cleaning mood and start packing up my items in my room to bring home. For a break, all I wanted to do was play washers. But low and behold, some of our team members were having a water balloon fight with each other outside of our dorm. As I go to get the washers, some of my friends on the team and soccer team aim for me and I got drenched. Oh well, it was all for fun. Then I think of the quote I found on someone’s facebook:

People don't play sports because it's fun. Ask any athlete, most of them hate it, but couldn't imagine their life without it. It's part of them, the love/hate relationship. It's what they live for. They live for the practices, team get-togethers, long bus rides, tournaments, countless pairs of different types of shoes, water, Gatorade, and coaches you hate, but admire and respect. They live for the way it feels when you beat their rival by one run in extra innings and you know that extra time you spent practicing by yourself was worth it. They live for the way you become a family with your team. They live for the countless songs you sing in your head while you run sprints. They live for the competition; they live for the friends, the practices, the memories, the pain. It's who they are. It's who we are. WE ARE ATHLETES!!!

Wednesday, May 3, 2006 - Today is a new day, the start of post season and new experience for me. As our team gathers at practice after a stressful day of exams, I look at them and I'm proud of being a member of this whole experience. Waiting till practice time, I relax from exams to watch some TV. I turn to the movie Little Giants. Laughing throughout the movie, I see a comparison between them and us. Like them we do not have the talent as the other teams have but we have the determination. We play as a team, laugh as a team and win as a team. Today, we know we have made it through even though the official rankings are not announced. We have proven ourselves. We stretch at the beginning of practice talking about trips we have taken, whose family members are going, and who do we think our competition is going to be. We go through practice like any other practice with laughter, pride and heart.

As the night prevails, the stress of my last finals engulfs me and jealousy overcomes my feelings as I see my teammates enjoying their freedom from school by hanging out with the other athletes. Tomorrow, my freedom rings and all concentration turns to softball where I start pursuing my dream of becoming a National Champion.