After a harrowing couple of weeks of baseball with nightly games this week and a torrential rain-out and a double- header win, my son's little league team pulled it off in both of the two final games of the playoffs against the top team with a final game win of 8-6, earning them the the title of league champs. Yeah, baby!
They came a long way, and I mean a LONG way from that first Bad News Bears practice two months ago. But their journey this past week, with this winning streak of four games, was exciting to join along on, because they really did seem to be grace under fire.
It wasn't all fun 'n games though. Number one son has been in a major batting slump this season, and no amount of apples and sugar cubes and the like could get this horse to drink from the trough. The most discouraging thing was watching him beat himself up in the dugout and watching as the team began to segregate by season's end to the haves (top of the batting order) and have nots (benchwarmers).
He's done remarkably well, considering that this is only his second season of ball and most of the kids in these parts cut their teeth on a baseball bat. But it was still heart-wrenching to sit back as a parent and hear snide comments from his teammates or worse, watch them and their school friend groupies snub him while making sucky with their fellow A-list players instead.
Anyways, it really did come down to the final game of the season. Sixth inning, unlimited runs, one out, fastest pitcher in the wild west throwing Mach 500 strikes consistently, and numero uno son steps up to bat. I was crossing fingers, toes, knees and elbows while simultaneously trying to appear relaxed when he looked over at us.
And then lo and behold, his coach tells him to bunt, something my son loves to do above all else. And so he does. Un.believe.able. He hits the most beautiful, assured bunt - it was perfectomundo. But as luck would have it, the catcher managed to scoop it up quickly and zing it to first for the out. It was a great sacrificial play that kept the runners on base in the game and headed for home with the next batter and it was a great moment for him to finally get back in the game.
It was a great season, in which I learned a tremendous amount about games and the games people play, about myself as a parent and reluctant bystander, about my son and his spirit and tenacity, and about God's amazing providence.
But just when I thought it was over and could finally breath a big sigh of relief, I find out they now have city and regional tournaments to participate in. Why doesn't little league have a beer garden for us Type A parents? Zoiks!
12 comments:
Woot Woot for Numero Uno Son!!! Such fodder for Shout Outs galore!! You must be in your glory out there in the stands while Casey is at Bat or out in the field, grabbing those catches, scratching those itches, picking up those stray flys. Ah, the heaven of the ball field! You're so blessed to have a son!
Now I'm having the memories of my Farm League (the only one that would let girls *grunt oink snort* play back in the 70's) career flood over me. I loved, loved, loved playing ball. No girlie softball crap for Lynn, heck no. And while I had no one in the stands, I cheered myself on every play just because I loved the game that much...loved the players and the camaraderie that much. Ahhhhh.
Thank you, Holy. Good luck with the coming games, Holy Son. Swing Away, Swing Away.
Congratulations to Holy Son! *woohoo!* Go ahead and put that beer garden idea in the suggestion box for next year. Y'all earned it. :)
Now, here's a kid after my own heart; I loved to bunt. I could hit but bunting has such a strategy to it. Brilliant!
I think there should be Margarita bars at all little league games. Could you imagine it?
Of course, there would need to be taxi service...
;)
Enjoy the holiday weekend!
Kudos to sone 1! Hmm ber tents, nah...real refreshment YES! Hope you are all having a good start to the week.
Hiya Holy,
Congrats to Holy Son!
I can still vividly remember when MY little league team took the championship, then went on to represent the state in the Nationals. I remember my tremendous pride at being selected to the All-Star Team - it was the very first thing I had ever done in my life of any note.
Here's hoping Holy Son will longer remember and savor this time.
Just stoping in to say hello and hope you are well.
Congrats on your son's accomplishments! I can tell you are only a smidget proud of him... LOL!
ciao bella,
KC
That sounds like loads of fun... Congratulations to the kiddoes...
See, it's lessons like that sacrificial bunt that teaches them lessons that will help later in life.. which is so important at that age.
Loved your pictures at the beach...
Terrific.
Thank you for the kind words about Sally. You are very insightful with someone you've never met in person, only gauging by what you read.
I needed a kleenex - not the best way to start the day.....
I follow you all over the internet. First blog: didn't work. This one: ok.
Backwoods, dialup me? I'll follow you, no problem. Problem is, this page takes forever to load at modem speed....
Worth the wait, however. I click you, go to the kitchen for wine, have a smoke, and your page is usually up by the time I get back.
Life is good.
Thanks for your comments. I must say, if your light of hope is starting to flicker, then we are indeed in major doo doo. The fact is, you are not allowed to relinquish hope, even if you feel gloom and doom in your heart, for two good reasons. One: You have chosen to take your shot at immortality by projecting your genes beyond yourself through your children. You are a mom, and as such, you cannot abandon hope, or what kind of legacy will you be giving them? Two: You have been given great gifts of intelligence matched with the ability to communicate. You are duty bound to project the best possible outcome for this little rock of a spaceship on which we are hurtling through the cosmos, and use your powers to rally all able bodied to the cause. from what I've read of your writings, you are doing a pretty good job of this. Don't falter now :-)
Be well,
J.
Good for Holy Son #1. It's hard when your worst critic is yourself. For that sort of person, the snide comments are never as harsh as whatever they're saying inside their own head.
But now he has no cause to beat himself up. He did wonderfully.
Best wishes and I hope you don't stress out too much watching him in the city and regionals.
Congrats to your son! My youngest brother is playing little league and 2 months in he still has 8 weeks of games left! His team is currently ranked number 1 in their league, which he's thrilled about.
Hope all is well, it's been awhile since I stopped by.
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