Baseball Player

N's first game was yesterday. This is his first season to play out of Tball (we missed last year because of the moving process--we were too late for signups!) Anyway--I have been pretty nervous about it. . .what if he didn't hit (they use a pitching machine), what if he struck out, what if he couldn't catch the ball, blah blah. Can you believe that? I can just hear him when he's playing ball in high school "Mom, you're going to have to settle down. You're making me nervous. Maybe you shouldn't come to the game. . ."

I didn't actually SAY any of that stuff. I just thought it. I want him to LOVE sports. I don't particularly care if he's GREAT at it, I just want him to love it enough to keep playing. I think you learn so much from participating in team sports. Ok, so--

As with soccer, we have wonderful coaches (actually, the head soccer coach is one of the assistant baseball coaches--that's the only reason we agreed to let him play. . .remember the fiasco with soccer all stars?) So, they are so great. They have this amazing system so that each kid truly is a star. No one is better or worse than anyone else. I suppose a kid could get down on himself if he never got a hit, but they have even got that pretty much handled. They do strike out once in a while, it is baseball after all, but they are great at setting the machine for each kid, and they have taught them well.

They bat in jersey number order. This game, player #1 was the first batter. Next game, #2 (N.) will lead off. Going on and on through the season. Everyone gets a chance to be first. Everyone's first at bat, they get 9 pitches--even if they don't hit, they still get to take first base. Everyone gets a chance to run the bases at least once.

Each inning they rotate positions on the field. You play 2 infield positions, 2 outfield positions, and sit on the bench for 2 innings. They bat straight through the lineup. Three outs or 9 batters. Even if you were on the bench that inning, you bat in the regular number order. Doesn't matter who you are or how you play. You will play every position--including bench warmer. I love it!! I think that as they get toward the end of the season, they start having more "assigned" positions, but for now, they are all equal. Fabulous!!

They have one more year in this league, and then they move up to regular kid pitch. Things get to be more like "normal" baseball then, but for now--they are teaching them to love the sport!!!

So, how did it go? GREAT! He hit every time he got up to bat (three times) and he played great at first base. He caught every ball thrown to him. He also did great at bench warmer. I can't really comment on his outfield play, because no one hit the ball to the outfield. However, he did not sit on the ground and play in the dirt or pick flowers, so I guess that is success out there too! He was also the first player to cross home plate, but I managed to get my hair in front of the camera lens, so that photo will have to wait until the next game (by the next time he went around, I was busy keeping J. off the field and couldn't get to the camera!)

He definitely seems to be a natural athelete. He loves everything outdoors (the newest thing is skateboarding--I just bought him a ramp--what's wrong with me????) He has that long, lean body that seems so comfortable running and throwing. Soccer and baseball are definite successes for him. I'm hoping he chooses to stick with them and blow off basketball and football. We'll see. . .we'll let him try whatever he wants, but these two seem to be really comfortable for him!