The introduction of Women’s Pro Fastpitch softball league
As she sat on a bucket inside the Glory dugout following a recent victory, Moore looked into the beaming face of a travel player and remembered what softball meant to her at that age.
Before she grew up to become Liberty University’s career leader in batting average (.419), runs (191), hits (229) and home runs (58), she was a youth league star who once sought autographs following Virginia Roadsters’ games.
That was more than a decade ago when the original Women’s Pro Fastpitch league was first developing in the United States with teams located in cities such as Gastonia, N.C, Columbus, Ga., Tampa, FL and Newport News.
“I remember seeing the Virginia Roadsters play when I was in Little League. It was really exciting to be able to talk to them and get an autograph,” Moore said. “As a child, it’s so cool to say you got to meet them.
“I tell the girls here that I’m from Chesapeake and they are so excited that there is someone here who was like them not so long ago, just a little kid running around playing travel ball.”
IN PAUL WE TRUST
The 19 players on Washington’s roster come from all over the country, but they have similar goals and all agree on one thing: They signed with the Glory because they love playing softball and they share Wilson’s dream of using their talent to create something meaningful.
Jackson, the team’s star shortstop who is working toward a Masters Degree in human development, could make more money elsewhere. But playing with the Glory has enabled her to become the public face of the fledgling Children Across America program — a foundation designed to help underprivileged children achieve success.
“It’s definitely why I do what I do,” Jackson said. “When I was younger I didn’t have anyone to talk to and I want to be able to be there for kids so they can get away from the everyday stresses of life and learn that there is so much out there and so many opportunities for them.”
That, as much as competing for a National Pro Fastpitch championship, is what the Glory is all about.
“There’s really nothing bad about this organization. We don’t have to worry about very much, which is great, whereas with other teams there’s a lot more worry. And it starts with Paul,” first baseman Oli Keohohou said. “We can all trust Paul. He’s one of us. There’s no separation. I really like the close-knit family we have here. The big man, he’s really good with all of us.”
And that’s because Wilson, a Frederick native, has taken the time to know his players as people rather than athletes. He attends every home game — arriving well before the first pitch — and often sits in the dugout during practice.
“What he is building here is the best and I want to be part of that,” said Keohohou, who was acquired in an off-season trade with the Akron Racers. “I don’t want to be on the next team. I want to be on the best team. That’s the main reason why I’m here. I trust him. Paul knew exactly what he was doing when he put this team together.”
Of course, he didn’t do it alone.
Wilson, 39, put as much care into building the franchise as he did in choosing a roster. His passion is obvious but, behind the scenes, Wilson is also a brilliant organizer. His greatest achievements are often revealed in the tiniest of details: providing players with furnished apartments, traveling to Tennessee to introduce himself to Abbott or offering to pick catcher Germaine Fairchild up at the airport after she returned from a recruiting trip at Quinnipiac, where she is in her fifth season as head coach.
“These ladies are spending their summer with us. I don’t look at them as our employees. I almost feel like they are family,” said Wilson, who runs the team with the assistance of his wife, Katy, and the support of George Mason University. “This absolutely is my passion.”