Chapter 3 - Logan
Despite the Olympic dream having perished, Chuck Lowery, both the father and the coach, remained dedicated to his daughter and to her team. Montgomery High repeated as softball state champions during Logan’s junior year, and she was named state player of the year. She’d have her pick of colleges.
Logan’s plan for the future, however, didn’t include softball. She’d play her senior season, of course, but she had no plans to accept a softball scholarship.
The recruiting letters she cherished were from soccer coaches. The same letters her father eschewed in favor of those from basketball and softball coaches, Logan treasured. Ever the unselfish teammate, despite talent that meant she didn’t have to be, she kept her plans to herself in order to keep coaches showing up at her various events in the hopes that they’d notice some of her teammates and begin to recruit them.
Her scheme landed many of her teammates, in all three sports Logan played, squarely on the radar of coaches who would have loved to have Logan, but who found Montgomery High School’s sports program a fertile hunting ground.
On a family vacation to Myrtle Beach a month before her senior year of high school began, Logan gathered the courage to inform her father of her college plans.
They sat folding chairs on the beach, Tracy back in the room taking a nap, when Logan broke the news.
“Dad, there’s something we need to talk about. Promise you won’t be mad at me.” She couldn’t even look at him as she spoke.
“How can I promise that if I don’t know what it’s about, kiddo?” Chuck asked as he folded up the last of the beach chairs.
She pouted and batted her eyelashes until he relented.
“Okay, okay, not mad, now the suspense is killing me. Say what you need to say,” Chuck couldn’t even begin to guess what she was about to tell him.
Logan took a deep breath.
“When I get to college I want to focus on one sport. And even though I love it, and I know you want to see me play in the College World Series, it’s not softball,” Logan’s voice dropped to a whisper as she spoke the last three words.
Chuck looked deep into his daughter’s eyes, then reached over and gave her hand a squeeze. “I know. I’ll never understand it, but I’ll always be your biggest fan. I know that deep down you’re a soccer player.”
Logan felt her eyes grow wet with tears. She knew she was breaking her father’s heart, but he wasn’t about to let it ruin either their trip or her future. “Daddy, how did you know?”
“I’ve known for years. I struggled at first, but I’ve always known it would be soccer for you. You get so much more excited for soccer than softball or basketball. And just the way you play. You play with… a fury. It’s not hard to tell that it’s your true passion. Whatever you do, just know how proud your mother and I are of you.”
Logan could hardly believe it. “Thank you. I’ve wanted to tell you for a long time but I never knew how. But it’s time I get serious about narrowing down my list of colleges. And Mr. Barton deserves a break,” she replied.
Poor old Mr. Barton had been the Lowery mailman since before Logan was born, and he’d suffered under the weight of her recruiting letters.
“I’ll miss watching you hit home runs,” Chuck Lowery’s voice trailed off as seagulls squawked nearby.
“Oh, I think I’ve got a few more in me, Daddy. You’re not getting rid of me so soon. We have another state title to win together. But is watching me score goals really so bad?”
He shook his head. “Your momma and I worked so hard to get you here, kiddo. How could I ever be anything but grateful for whatever you get to choose to do with your beautiful life? I love you, Logan.”
With that, the father and daughter stood and embraced.
Breaking the hug and stretching her arms above her head, Logan looked her father in the eye. “Race me to the water, old man. I’ll give you a head start.”
“I’ve never lost a footrace to a soccer player, and I don’t plan to start today!” Chuck exclaimed.
With that, father and daughter bolted toward the ocean, hitting the waves together and laughing as he pulled her under.
* * *
Logan’s senior year began with her leading Montgomery High to its first state championship in soccer, and although she couldn’t duplicate the feat as captain of an inexperienced basketball team, her final season playing softball was a fairytale ending to her high school career. The team lost only two games and stampeded to a third state crown, cementing a legacy for father and daughter.
Chuck announced his retirement from coaching the Monday after they won the state championship.
As for Logan, she’d picked Xavier University, just down the road in Cincinnati, as her college destination. More high-profile schools had sought her signature, but she liked the smaller campus, the proximity to home, and the coaching staff, headed by a retired Dutch professional player named Kyle Hiddink.
Soccer and school were the order of the day for Logan Lowery, and her success on the field was starting to draw the notice of people in high places.
Logan was at her peak. A college athlete, an Olympic hopeful, and a young, vivacious girl with the world at her feet if she wanted it.
No one would have guessed the obstacle that would soon stop them all in their tracks.