Mama Knows

When a career of the youngest child from a family of athletes comes to a climax there can be an "empty-arena effect" upon parents.

Former Farmington Lady Cardinal Kala Crisp, who went on to play Division I college softball as a Lady Razorback just down the road at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, came to a decision not to play next season (she will graduate in December) rendering her parents, Robert and Kathy Crisp, who have been rooting for their daughter on the diamond for years with a sense of abruptness.

"That final game is always emotional. Because she went through shoulder surgery and rehab the first year at Arkansas, and then didn't really play this year, it was hard to see it end without it her playing like we had all hoped she would have," Kathy said. "But on the other hand, I was so proud of the fact that she was a part of the team and had the experiences she did. I believe she always tried to stay positive and be a good and loyal teammate. And of course it was a little sad to think that I won't have any more kids playing in organized sports. Kala is our youngest, and we've been going to some kind of ballgame since our oldest son started t-ball and that was 30 years ago."

Maybe Kathy was just needing a support group, or perhaps, a sense of pleasure in showcasing the achievements of her daughter on the diamond was creating a desire to want to celebrate the occasion with those who helped Kala reach this pinnacle. Kathy says Kala was lucky to have played high school softball for Farmington coaches Randy Osnes and Steve Morgan and Kathy wanted Cardinal fans to help recognize this milestone.

So prior to the senior day ceremony, Kathy sent out an email, "Kala's last game is Sunday. She had planned to slip out quietly, but they are recognizing her as a senior since she isn't going to play next year. She doesn't want to make a big deal about it, but I wanted our 'Farmington family' to know."

Kala, accompanied by four other Lady Razorback seniors: Sierra Bronkey, Kasey Fagan, Megan Pearson, and Devon Wallace made their final appearances in a Razorback uniform in a home series against Alabama over the weekend of May 2-3. Also recognized was former Lady Cardinal Kendra Center, who was wrapping up four years as team manager for the Lady Razorbacks and, like Kala, will graduate in December.

Kala did not take the easy path to arrive at this juncture in her softball career. Crowder College, at Neosho, Mo., offered her a chance to continue playing a sport she enjoys and she went there two years before transferring to Arkansas. The transition was challenging. The university campus was huge in terms of enrollment numbers compared to Crowder and Kala didn't exactly enroll at Arkansas on the buddy system. There weren't many familiar faces smiling back as she went around campus. Yet, she stayed focussed keying in on her ultimate goal in pursuit of a degree. Like the County Western song "Mama Knows" made popular by Shenandoah, reaching No. 5 on the charts