Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

With the coming of Spring, came the beginning of baseball season. Luke, Lindsey and Heather all decided to take a swing at the sport. With three kids playing, we spent nearly every evening at the baseball fields. Matthew thought it was great because he got to play on the playground every day. Savannah liked it because she got to buy a slushy almost every day. I enjoyed the sunshine (at least most of the season, at the end it rained regularly) and watching the kids play.

This was a first for Heather, she had skipped T-ball and coach pitch. This was her first year playing. She hesitated when I asked her if she wanted to try it but after her first practice she informed me that she loved it. She turned out to be a natural. She hit the ball her first time and nearly every time after that. She could also catch and throw better than nearly everyone on her team. Heather played in the co-ed, machine pitch league. She was sad when the season ended, she said she would miss it. It was fun watching her play a sport she really liked.

Lindsey played all-girl, machine pitch. She hasn't played since T-ball but she also turned out to be quite good. I don't think she struck out all season, or for that matter, got out on base either. She played various positions but mostly short stop. She had a great coach who took the time to work with each girl. She also had one of her best friends from our neighborhood on her team, that always makes it more fun. She informed me that she liked this sport much more than soccer, which ended right before baseball season started. (I don't have a picture of Lindsey because her last few games were too rainy.)

Luke was lucky enough to play on the same team he did last year. I think the kids are always more comfortable if they are familiar with the coaches and the teammates. Luke's league was player pitch. That took some getting used to for Luke but he did manage to get on base a few times. His catching and throwing has greatly improved over last year. The last game of the season was the most fun to watch. The team they played had forfeited so Luke's team knew they had won before the game started. The pressure was off and they just had fun. There was a moment at the end of the game that I will never forget. The batter right before Luke was at the plate and there was two outs. Unfortunately, he struck out. The kid felt really bad because that was the end of the season. He was crying a little bit as he walked back to the dugout from home plate. Instead of feeling sorry for himself that he wouldn't get one last turn at bat for the season, Luke met his teammate halfway, put his arm around him, and told him it was OK--there was always next year. I don't know if Luke realizes his parents witnessed that moment but it was more priceless than watching your kid hit a home run!