Margie as a teammate and captain was always a fun experience. Margie had a passion for competition that translated onto the softball field. While she knew the point of slow pitch softball was to win she knew it was more important to have fun, and that losing a softball game was not the end of the world.
I have been playing softball in Laramie since I moved back in 2001. I played both men’s league and coed softball with great enjoyment. I enjoy getting out side, running around the field and generally having a good time doing it. Razing my teammates for both good plays, and bad, I have learned that softball is all about having fun, being outside with your friends, enjoying a few drinks before the game or after, or both. It is all about who you play with and how much you enjoy it and your teammates. I have always had good teammates and am lucky in that sense.
Three years ago our coed team was struggling to put together a roster big enough to field a team, and Margie’s team was having the same problem. Somehow, our captain, a strapping slugger of an outfielder, short stop, first baseman, drinker of beers, and thrower of parties, got connected with Margie and they decided to combine the two teams. There could not have been a better match of teams; both enjoyed just
playing the game, the camaraderie between teammates and the general fun of spending an evening playing a game outside rather than watching TV. Rowdy is a great captain and teammate but very soon Margie’s personality and enthusiasm started taking over the team and happily Rowdy handed off the reigns of team captain to her. She guided our team to some pretty good records while worrying about hurt feelings over playing time, and her own, sometimes, inconsistent bat. But with Margie, no one cared about playing time, we all just enjoyed playing, enjoyed the email reminders she would send via email and the mandatory team meetings at the Library.
Margie would be hard on herself for her performance on the field and we all liked to kid her about her eyes lighting up at the high deep pitches and how she often stopped more throws at first base with her shins than her glove. Margie was easy to kid around with, to raze her about her speed when she would “coast” into second base with a double, and she enjoyed giving it all right back to us.
I loved playing softball with Margie and there will be a hole in our line-up and hearts as we take the field this summer to play. But play we will, in honor of our captain. - David Willems
