#13!

I just had the amazing privilege to witness my teammate, my friend, and my comadre get inducted into the SDSU Hall of Fame, one of the highest honors a softball player can obtain.  The entire experience was so indescribable, but I will try to express into words.  Sandra and I have shared the field for 15 years, and it was such an incredible honor to see one of the finest athletes, ever to hit a softball field, receive her recognition.  She by far is the best pitcher I have ever played behind and anyone who played behind her would have to agree.  She had this change up that made players look like they’ve never held a bat in their lives, and I have to be honest I laughed hysterically every time, thanking God every day she was on MY team.  When Brookie (her career catcher) called the pitch, I knew exactly where the ball was going and exactly where to position myself.  This was IF the batter even hit the ball, which most of the time they were sent back to the dugout verrrrrry embarrassed.  It was a joke on the team that she was our “circle princess”, which if you’re an athlete reading this you know that definition….if not here it is….

                        Circle Princess- (noun or adj.): The team’s pitcher…aka…..the coach’s favorite person in the whole wide world…especially when she retires 20 players straight….and yes when she beats the defending national champions…..she can do no wrong…..she can say no wrong…..you bow down to her…..if you don’t you’re now coach’s most hated player…..ahahhahah I’m totally joking Sandra!!! (not really) but I know she’s laughing so it’s ok!!!!

So I’ll begin when she called me to help her shop for her event….and yes ladies and gentlemen it was on Black Friday!!!!!!   Now this is a gorgeous woman who wears softball clothes every day of her life because she’s a head coach and runs a fitness facility.  I knew this was going to be challenging due to her crazy “Black Friday” shopping until 6 am……but she got great deals so I’ll excuse her.  We started at Macy’s…..I knew we were in BIGGGGGGGGGGG trouble when I asked her size and she said she didn’t know it. UMMMM WHAT??!! You don’t know your dress size…..ok…..you look like a 4 but your booty looks like a “There’s not really a size for that thing back there!”  HAHAHA I can only say this due to the situation I am also currently lugging around called my big a$$!   So we figure out her size, gather multiple dresses and head to the dressing room, and this is where I knew we had met our demise.  She goes in…starts trying them on…..she would barely show me through a cracked door….wouldn’t turn around when I asked her to….and hated them all! OMMMMGGG ok…..so we re-grouped left the store….and I could see I was already losing her and her bloodshot eyes.  We went to a couple other stores, but as you guessed…..nothing.  After hours we end at Cache….one of my favorite dress stores.  Now, I was living a dream when I asked her our budget and she said “No budget”…..I screamed with joy!!!!   We grabbed every dress and went to the room……I thought surely we’re done…we found them here.  Little did I know, she wasn’t even trying any on! She was texting and facebooking…….I could’ve slapped her!!!!  So I ask her if she’s ok in there and I notice..uh ohhhh….the very depressed answer “everything’s fine!” Oh crap I know this line, I use it on Michael all of the time….right before I start screaming and balling my eyes out in the dressing room.  So I ask her…”are you about to start your period?” (sorry folks for too much info..but all the women reading will understand)…she replied…Yes…..CCCCCCCRAAAAAAPPPPP CODE RED CODE RED PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!! Let’s get out of here quickly!!!!! I can never shop at that time…1. I think I’m the size of an elephant….2. I’m emotionally unstable….and 3. I normally want to smash all of the mirrors I look into!  SO we leave unsuccessful in the dress department, but I reminded her we learned a lot.  I felt compassion for her, because I‘ve been there before, but honestly the stores were such a disaster, it looked like a bomb went off in all of them….we weren’t going to find anything.  We chalked it up as some quality friend time and a learning lesson.  Never go shopping on Black Friday…on No sleep….in Northridge….hungry….no Starbucks…..about to start your period…..oh did I mention we were in Northridge. 

On to the Ceremony……She looked absolutely divine!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW!!!!! She cleans up very nice! There were 4 inductees and the 1958 baseball team.  Leave it to the one Mexican to have 25 people there to support her……Just kidding…. She only had 14 there…..but this just means she is very loved!  The Host of the ceremony was Ted Leitner aka Bob Ueker from Major League! Sandra’s highlight reel came up second and I left my body watching in complete aweeee! They announced her name, named off her stats, and brought my coach up to present her with the award.  I played with her and forgot how many accomplishments she had acquired.  She still holds most of the pitching records at SDSU.  Her speech was beautiful and the tears commenced and didn’t stop for a while.  One thing my coach said stood out in my mind.  Sandra was one of the most selfless players you will ever play with.  AMEN! She was the dream teammate….she always made the infield’s job extremely easy.  I always told her I can get my lawn chair out…drink a margarita….and get a tan at shortstop! She was the definition of a team player, someone you not only admired but who had your back 100%! She still looked in complete shock as she walked up to accept her statue.  Then she spoke…..I was at a complete loss for any function other than crying.  She acknowledged every single person who came to support her and spoke more about us than she did about herself…..very “SANDRA LIKE”.  This was her; her speech embodied what she represents as a person, player, coach, teacher, daughter, friend, sister, cousin, wife, and mother.  She reminisced with stories and held back others on grounds that we are still afraid of our coach! HAHAHA! She very humbly and gracefully thanked everyone for this honor and accepted her now new home in the Aztec Hall of Fame.  Our coach also surprised her with her jersey framed….the all power #13!

Ms. Sandra Durazo Lusk….I am so very proud of you and very honored to have shared the field with such an extraordinary athlete.  Thank you for sharing your talents and gifts, as I know for a fact our teams would not have propelled to success without you! Thank you for your endless selflessness, kindness, compassion, intelligence, athleticism, friendship, and simply put awesomeness! You are a blessing to everyone who knows you! I love you!