GREENVILLE, N.C. — For the past six years, J.R. Drummond, Dan Abel and Brad Mercer have watched their daughters blossom from the dugouts.
Their girls — Dru Drummond, Sawyer Abel and Briley Mercer — started playing softball when they were around 6-years-old for Floyds Knobs Community Club.
“It’s always special to be coaching your kid,” J.R. Drummond, the FKCC 12U All-Star head coach, said. “But I just hope I’m an example to other parents in how to love your kid through the game. They’re not judged on their performance, just enjoy the time. I think sometimes people get it mixed up and they value their kid’s performance.”
For the past three months the fathers and daughters have had plenty of quality time together. That’s because FKCC won district, state and region titles en route to this week’s Little League World Series in Greenville, N.C.
Brad Mercer has had a front-row seat at his daughter’s dominance in the pitching circle this summer.
“It means the world to me to see all of the hard work she puts in at home and the dedication she has to perfect her craft,” the FKCC pitching coach said. “There’s not a moment that has been too big for her yet and I just look forward to her future.”
Thus far, the younger Mercer has struck out 94 of the 225 hitters she’s faced.
“Her confidence to throw any pitch in any count has improved,” Brad Mercer said.
Meanwhile, Dru Drummond has been steady both at the plate and in the field for FKCC. She boasts a .364 batting average with 12 runs batted in. Drummond, who primarily plays first base, has 12 putouts in 15 games with zero errors. She admits, though, that having her father as the head coach isn’t without its challenges.
“It means a lot to have my dad as a coach because he has been my coach for a long time now,” Dru Drummond said. “It’s also kind of stressful, because he’s counting on me. He’s not going to coach me next year, because he’s only coaching one team, so this is the last time.”
For Sawyer Abel, the outfield has become her home. That’s where she, Alyvia Kolish and Izzy Campbell patrol the green.
“I think she’s progressed from position-to-position over her softball time,” Dan Abel said of his daughter, who has five putouts this postseason. “Rotating infield positions and last year she really settled into a natural outfielder (role), utilizing her natural speed. Seeing her patrol the outfield has been a joy. I love seeing her track fly balls.“
Though the season is coming to a close, the fathers are hoping to see their daughters continue their World Series run through this weekend.
“It has been a blast and I’m going to hate it when it ends,” Brad Mercer said.
“I think there’s joy in service, that’s the big thing I’m trying to push on our families this week and our girls,” J.R. Drummond added. “Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but there’s joy in service.”