By Terra Avilla
This week I’m shining a big ol’ spotlight on a couple who are, quite frankly, the definition of A+ humans – Brad and Teresa Justice.
My history with these two gems goes way back to when their son, Lowgan (and y’all know, we still love us some Lowgan!), was playing on the baseball field for Frankie.
It was during those countless games that Teresa and I became friends as she was (and still is) a diehard baseball mom who was always at the games.
It probably helped that our daughters decided to enter the world just days apart. I’ll never forget us bumping into each other in Mazatlan, both as pregnant AS COULD BE and probably waddling with identical grace. We were clearly meant to be friends.
While we were solving the world’s problems one inning at a time, our little ones were forming their own crew. My Peach was absolutely enamored with their older daughter, and Pearl and Laney? Let’s just say they could turn the area under the bleachers into an Olympic-level playground during games.
But beyond the friendship, what Frankie and I always marveled at was Brad and Teresa as college baseball parents. We’ve always called them “A+” in that department. They were the perfect blend: incredibly supportive of Lowgan and the team, always there with encouragement, but never those hovering, helicopter parents.
They truly understood that their son was in college, learning to navigate the world, and they actively encouraged him to fully buy into the baseball club’s program, its rules, and all the responsibilities that came with it.
It was a masterclass in letting your kid grow while still being their biggest fan.
Also… they cheered for every single player =. Every single one, even those that competed for the same position as Lowgan. Like, I just miss them at the games so much!
Flash forward through a blur of years, and some bunco games, and life has served up one of those wonderfully sweet full-circle moments. Guess who’s now coaching my very own Pearl in 8U softball? Yep, Brad and Teresa!
And let me tell you, if you want to know what makes a good sports coach, just watch these two in action. They bring that same fantastic energy, that supportive spirit and that deep understanding of what young athletes need. They are, simply put, it.
All the reasons you’d want someone guiding your kid, they embody them. Seeing them out there, teaching Pearl and her teammates not just the game, but also about teamwork and effort, it’s just fantastic.
So, when I sit down to write about “Why I Love This Place,” it’s people like Brad and Teresa Justice who immediately spring to mind. They’re the kind of friends and community members who just make everything better, whether they’re cheering from the stands or coaching from the dugout.
We’re incredibly fortunate to have them in our corner and shaping our kiddos. This place just wouldn’t be the same without them and they are both two of the reasons I love where we live.
