11/11/2023
This will be lengthy, feel free to read or not.
I knew this day was coming and had planned all along to make a post this weekend after our final fall games. The city making their announcement (which I got a text about from someone) forced my hand a little sooner than planned so I didn’t really get to say what I had planned that day.
First and foremost, I want to thank my family for supporting me and allowing me to do this as long as I have. My daughter left softball years ago, but I stayed because I loved the game, the girls and the people. It took years to get my husband to understand that his deer hunting was my softball. Once that was explained, he understood a little more.
Second, thank you Jeff Fudge for trusting me with your baby. You had a vision and you built this. Nov 15, 2004 MESA was created and separated boys baseball’s and girls softball in Forney. I came along a few years later as a mom of a 6 year old and you trusted me and pulled me on board and I’ve been here ever since. We have had extremely high years and low years after Covid, but I always stayed true to Jeff’s vision. The rules, requirements and the way things were run drove some people crazy, but following the lead of an attorney and me having a law enforcement background, I felt confident that our rules, requirements and expectations would stand up to any questions or accusations, and they did. The old timers know exactly what I am talking about. Times have changed, and we didn’t change with them which is a downfall to some, but others understood. But I promise you, we would have been more than covered in any event and I know for a fact that other leagues would not stand that if put to the test.
Third, thank you to the board over the years. Things have changed, some years were better than others and as everyone grew, things changed. But, you always had my back and were there for votes and support when needed. People have no idea what it really takes to run a league but you all do and you recognize what I’ve done and for that I thank you. No one really understands what goes on behind the scenes.
Next, Miss Faye, you are ONE IN A MILLION. You have gone above and beyond any expectations I had. You have been there when I couldn’t be due to sickness, family or work and you never missed a beat. You are my right hand and I will never deny that. You, my friend, have been a HUGE part of this leagues success and are family to me. I love you!
Thank you to my UIC, Harvey Bass, for always being there with a crew for me. No one will ever like all umpires, but you brought me the best and let me critique and criticize when needed, and corrected me when I was wrong. You will forever be a friend to me.
Thank you to my umpires, scorekeepers and field crew over the years. You have all made my job easier and I will forever be grateful.
And last, to the players, parents/grandparents, coaches and so on that have posted, emailed or texted me this week, I thank you. I never knew exactly what an impact MESA and sometimes myself, had on you all. I know there are haters out there, there always will be and I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t mention them. But, I have busted my butt over the last 15+ years to make Jeff and my family proud and to keep MESA the most affordable league in the metroplex. We did that. MESAs fees were always affordable as well as tournaments when we hosted them and concessions till
this day. We always have parents at tournaments tell us that we have the best and most affordable concessions around. It was always our goal to make things affordable for all and we did it, even when we didn’t even break even.
To the schools that have supported us and we have donated to for all these years, thank you for playing with us and I am so glad we could support you. To the many, many girls that started in MESA that we have awarded scholarships to, it was an honor to have you play for us and I encourage you all to follow your dreams.
I have given many, many years of my life to softball while being a wife, mom, caregiver to my elderly mother and having a full time job. I am now an empty nest wife, MiMi, eligible for retirement and looking forward to spending as much time as I can with my husband kids and grandkids while maintaining relationships with my close softball family.
In closing, THANK YOU! Thank you to Jeff for trusting me with your baby. Thank you to my husband and kids for allowing me to follow my dream and not always be there for you when I should have been, and thank you to my many friends, some that I now consider family, that I have met over my many years in softball.
Tracie, Jason, Robert, Stacey, Faye, Debbie, Harvey, Nate and all of the others who have crossed my softball path over the last 15+ years, thank you. I love you all and I’m always around if needed.
I truly believe that the end of one thing is only the beginning of another. Starting strong is good. Finishing strong is epic- and we finished strong.
See ya on the dirt ~ Michelle CEO/President MESA Softball
