Some extra stuff from the last start of Kaci Clark’s NPF career:
Why (retire) now?
“There’s — whew — I think there comes a time, and it varies from player to player. Sometimes you don’t have it physically anymore and you need to hang them up. Sometimes you might physically still be there but the heart and the desire come and go. At my age — which is a big, fat 32 — maybe it’s time to get some more solid things. Time for a house, a car. There’s a career waiting for me. It is an extremely tough decision. It’s funny, people say, ‘oh, you’re retiring, but you’re going back to Japan.’ Well, this is where my heart is. In my heart, I’ve always been a Brakette, and I always will. This has been my home, and I want to thank the fans, the people, everyone who has made it such an experience to be around.”
The career — you’re going to be teaching?
“Yes, there’s a company for athletes called Frozen Ropes. There’s 30 franchises across the country. I work with their instructors, teaching pitching.”
With the emotions: How did you get through today?
“I called my mom and dad, last night and again this afternoon. I knew it was going to be difficult. But they were like, you have to approach this game like you approach every other game. Stay in the inning you’re in; stay with the pitch you’re throwing. You can’t think about the past or think about the future.”
“If you could just say thank you to everyone who has made it so wonderful to be a part of this here. Dave Carpenter does so much. My teammates. Germaine. She’s bailed me out of so many jams.”
You guys shared a nice moment at the end, there.
“If there’s softball in heaven, I’ll be pitching to her.”
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Some more stuff from John Stratton:
“It’s too bad she’s not 6-3. If she were, she’d be untouchable.”
“There was one game up in Boston, where the ground was soft, and she was pitching out of a hole. The umpire said it was like the ball was coming up out of the hole. … I always kid her about her height. She’s the best 5-4 pitcher ever.”
“It’s one of those things where I may have to call her up in an emergency. She struggled the last two years. She did it for me.”