Collision Course

Mountain View's Sabrina Hill is safe at home after colliding hard with Stafford's Ashley Chenoweth in the fourth inning. Chenoweth did not return to the game. (Dave Ellis / The Free Lance-Star)

“You know that just made me realize how much luck plays into what you guys do,” Justin Rice, assistant sports editor for The Free Lance-Star.

“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity,” Seneca, 1^st century Roman philosopher.

What Rice was referring to was the above photo that I took during the fourth inning of a softball game between Mountain View and Stafford High School. Mountain View’s Sabrina Hill charged down the third baseline and collided hard with Stafford catcher Ashley Chenoweth. Hill scored the run. Chenoweth was knocked out of the game.

For the first three innings of the game, I shot from my on-the-field position near third base. At the start of the fourth, I moved to the outside of the fence behind home to get head on views of the starting pitchers.

Had the collision happened in any other inning, I would not have had that vantage point. From the third base position I might have gotten a shot, but not one that showed both player’s faces at the moment of impact.

From the first base position that I later worked from, I would have missed it because my view would have been blocked entirely.

And that’s where it all came together. I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time. The opportunity unfolded before me. And I was prepared to capture it.