SWAT Fastpitch Softball

06/05/2026

Hook 'em!

YOUR TEXAS LONGHORNS ARE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS… AGAIN 🤘🏆

06/03/2026

Softball and Baseball Terminology

Most of our kids are never taught the vernacular associated with softball and baseball. Every now and then we'll talk about a new term. I'm sure a lot of parents aren't familiar with some of these terms either. Enjoy...

Line Drive or liner - a sharply hit ball that travels fast and straight

Frozen Rope - see line drive

Hiss Missile (clean version) - see frozen rope and line drive

In the Hole - most commonly referred to the area to the right of a shortstop resulting in a long throw to first. "In the hole" can also refer to the 2nd batter waiting to hit behind the current hitter. She hit a ball "in the hole" and beat the throw to first or "who's in the hole?"

The Dish - home plate. Who’s behind “the dish” this game?

The mound or the rubber - pitching area. So and so is on "the rubber" tomorrow.

Hurler - a pitcher

Rundown (no it’s not a pickle grow up) - runner caught between two bases. She got caught in a "rundown."

On deck - the next batter waiting to hit.

Dinger - home run

Bomb - see dinger

Drilled - a hard hit ball. Could be a line drive or a hiss missile. That ball was "drilled!"

One hopper - a line drive that will reach the defensive player on “one hop."

Humpback line drive - Kind of a semi line drive. The ball has a clear “hump” to it’s flight path

Battery - the pitcher and the catcher.

Battery mate - Either the pitcher or the catcher. Who is Jess's "battery mate" today?

Crooked number - old school term. A crooked number would be 13 runs in an inning vs. 2 or 3. It looks odd or “crooked” on the scoreboard.

On the black - this refers to a pitch that is perfectly on the inside or outside of the plate.

Chin music - a pitch thrown up and in on a hitter under their chin.

K - a “K” is used in a traditional scorebook to register a strikeout. She had “12 K’s” her last game.

Backwards K - a backwards K is used in a traditional scorebook to register a strikeout where the batter did not swing at the third strike.

Caught looking - see backwards K. She got "caught looking" her last at bat.

Fuzz - a ball either hit or thrown that you can hear when it goes by you. “That ball had fuzz on it.” It could also hiss resulting in a “hiss missile.”

Heavy ball - certain players throw a “heavy ball” meaning when you catch it, the ball hits your glove harder than other players. Doesn’t mean it’s being thrown harder (MPH) necessarily. The ball simply seems to have more weight coming out of their hand for various reasons.

Seeing eye single - a ball that is weakly hit that somehow manages to result in a hit.

Blooper - a ball hit in the air weakly that barely makes it over an infielders head and in front of an outfielder.

Worm burner - a hard hit ball ground ball unlike a seeing eye single.

What are we missing???

06/01/2026

S.W.A.T. 10U Finishes 5th in the Sliding Into Summer Tournament.

Over the weekend, the S.W.A.T. 10U team competed against local rec tournament teams in Douglasville. To say this weekend was both rewarding and frustrating is completely accurate.

Our group as a whole are young, inexperienced and TINY compared to our competition. To say we were an underdog in every game so far this season is an understatement. That being said, with a few breaks here and there, we could have just as easily been 4-0 instead of 0-2-2. We were -2 in runs scored and yet still didn't come away with a win. We're still staring at too many 3rd strikes unfortunately.

All that aside, this post is going to serve as the Jaida Tanis appreciation post. Her pitching was a HUGE reason we were competitive in each game. This poor kid, who gives it her all for this organization, had a gut-wrenching inning on Sunday I don't care to see again.

Unfortunately, Jaida hit a girl while pitching causing the batter to end up in tears. The ball hit a bad spot on her knee which is painful. Jaida felt horrible and also ended up in tears. She has a huge heart! A mere minutes later, she took a line drive right off the left shoulder causing screams of pain no one ever wants to hear at a game. The hit was an absolute rocket! It happened so fast. So in the span of minutes, she had two completely emotional situations to deal with. Totally undeserved and luckily resulted in no fractures.

Jaida, and her family, have deserved appreciation for a while now. They exemplify what sports is supposed to be like. Jaida, even on crutches, shows up to practice and tournaments. Even when not getting as much playing time at 12U, she never complains and cheers for her team. Jaida never seems to have a bad day even through two leg/foot injuries and now a bullet to her shoulder this spring. You cannot break her spirit.

Too often in all sports, parents think they're kids are entitled to playing time. Playing time and positions should just be given to a kid. That's what rec is for. Are you performing well enough to warrant where you want to play? In most cases, no. Marc and Onya Tanis have instilled this set of values in Jaida that will serve her long beyond her playing days. They expect her to work for it. They see the bigger picture.

If some of you still wonder what travel is about, read this again. It's about battling, accepting your role and COMPETING on a team. Those who do not want to battle end up leaving. Those who stay, will gain a lot more long-term by taking a chance and competing against better and more focused players.

Thank you Tanis family for setting an example since day 1 wearing a S.W.A.T. uniform. See you back at the field with your big smile soon Jaida!

05/28/2026

The circle of trust!

05/27/2026

There are dozens of videos like this out there but this one made me laugh. Maybe it's the southern accent? I tell the girls they cry sometimes because they care. Moms chirp because they care. Just keep the phone out of your bra if you could please. 😁

05/21/2026

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdpVD1nadcZx4YDPNijK2OT2OBPtP-J9CTX0StAzaRAYoynAA/viewform

05/19/2026

Another great weekend for S.W.A.T.! 🥎

The girls battled hard to bring home 3rd place out of 13 teams! 👏

So proud of the hustle, teamwork, growth, and fight this team continues to show every weekend. Thank you to all of our families and supporters for always cheering these girls on!