DREAM: Parents Invest In Daughter’s Career

anybody?’ She’s too happy, she doesn’t need to hit anybody right now,” Rogers said.

Rhonda Pace remembers when her daughter, Madison Cluck, was 10-or-11, she went to her step dad, Brad Pace, and asked for his help with her softball game.

“She said, ‘Dad, I know you were a catcher.’ He went and he picked up a 5-gallon bucket. He said, ‘Madison, you see that fence post, I want to see you in here every afternoon,’” Pace said. “They went to finding out whatever they could country-wise that would help her in her softball game.”

Pace pointed out Cluck posted 38 RBIs and had 21 pickoffs as the starting catcher for the Prairie Grove softball team this past season.

“Brad, my husband, takes a lot of time to show her how to hit correctly,” Pace said. “Maurice Cluck, her real father, and I stand behind her one hundred percent. We have a close family.”

Cluck said she appreciates the investments all of her parents have made into developing her softball skills. She wants to make a career of it and plans to become a coach. Cluck is grateful for the family taking care of travel expenses and buying equipment.

Jordin Smith, of Farmington, credits her dad, Dwayne Smith, with getting her started in softball and said he’s brought her a long way and coached a couple of her teams. Younger sister, Brooke, also has appreciated her father’s involvement.

“He’s coached my team before and we’ve won 12and- under,” Brooke Smith said. “He was quarterback for Farmington the year they went to state and also played baseball and basketball.”

“He just enjoyed watching softball and I ended up signing up one year to see if I’d like it and I ended up loving it,” Smith said. “I just like it all. It’s interesting.”

A father’s active involvement in a daughter’s life helps her to blossom and investment becomes its own reward. MARK HUMPHREY IS A SPORTS REPORTER FOR THE ENTERPRISELEADER.