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I’m just saying, when it goes to baseball….I have a special place in my heart for these young people who have played and stayed together for so many years. My boys were blessed with a group of ballplayers that stayed together…even some into college ball. The true depth of the love I have for these “boys” and their families never ends…I love them as much today as I did years ago.
Susan Riley Walker shared a moving tribute to the Ruffnecks following their 8 year season together….I just had to share with ya’ll….As always, I’m just saying…no one can tell it like a mama!
“I normally only post pictures but I have felt compelled to post something about our PanSouthern Ruffnecks. We knew that the spring and summer of 2015 would be our last season together. We came out of the 2014 season with a USSSA World Series win so we had the highest of hopes for 2015. We faced many struggles this year….. limited practice time due to school ball, injuries of several players, rained out tournaments and losses instead of wins. We went to the World Series in Orange Beach hoping to change our season. I watched as these boys came together and played their hearts out. We lost the pool games because we were playing teams that had much better records and rankings than us. We made our way to the bracket play and these teammates showed out for their last tournament and season. We came away as back to back World Series champions. I am always excited about a championship win and happy young men, but what I am happiest about is the experience my boys have had the past eight years. We were blessed to have a sponsor like Mr. Whitney Pansano. His contribution gave these boys experiences and opportunities that they will never forget. We were also blessed with the absolute best coaches. You see, my boys had a little different experience than most. They lost their dad at the age of nine. I will forever be grateful to our coaches that stepped up and were a role model to my boys and helped this mama keep her boys involved in a sport that they loved. They didn’t have to take on my boys because they had their own sons that they were trying to teach the basic skills of baseball. But, they did! Our Ruffneck group is truly family. I don’t ever recall a time that anyone favored one player over another or was jealous of anything that one achieved. We were all happy for the accomplishments of each player. I don’t remember everything about the funeral service for Jimmy, but I do remember looking over my right shoulder and seeing several rows of little Ruffnecks, coaches and parents. They were seated right down front because they were, are and always will be our family. As the seasons rolled on, James and John were blessed with another role model that became their step dad. Our Ruffneck family embraced Brent like he had always been with us and very quickly Brent became our biggest (and loudest) Ruffneck cheerleader. I don’t really know where Brent came up with the idea of a Ruffneck Rodeo but he did and it stuck like glue. To end this post, I would just like to say to all of our Ruffneck family…… Thank you for the years, the memories, the dedication, the love and support and most recently the greatest Ruffneck Rodeo that I’ve attended.”
