Baseball

Tis' the season!  Found myself sitting at a meeting for baseball this evening!  I opens that little window inside me that SO hopes spring will be here soon.  I love baseball/softball season!!  I really do!  I can't quite explain it, because it certainly isn't that I loved playing softball growing up!! 

In fact, I have terrible memories playing ball!  I remember one year in particular.  I rode my banana seat bicycle to practice.  I was 8 or 9 years old.  I had just bumped up to the next "level" of softball, and it was the first day of practice.  I parked my bike, grabbed my glove and walked onto the field.  I found the coach and got my new rec t-shirt.  As girls continued coming up to the coach, he looked at me and asked, "What position do you play?"  This simple question horrified me!  Truly horrified!  I had no idea what position I played!!  I went where the coach told me to go!  I couldn't have told you what place I played if my life depended on it!  I mumbled something, and the coaches attention went onto someone else.  While he was distracted, I snuck over to that banana seat, get-away bike and rode hard to get outta there!  I never went back that season, and never signed up again. 

Now I find myself in a whole new state of mind.  There are so many things I love about the summer baseball season!  I adore afternoons in the sun, acting as though there are few cares in the world.  I love the smell of hotdogs at the concession stands, and ketchup dribbled down my Benjamin!  The slushies on a hot day of all day tournaments.  It all makes me smile.  Running from practice to game, and back again.  Juggling softball tournaments and baseball tournaments in two different towns and working it out to see every game. 

I love that everything in the back of the van feels dusty, and that at any given moment, you can find an array of balls, gloves, lawn chairs and blankets.  Always ready at a moments notice!  An empty field was the perfect opportunity to get out and see if we could fake a game!  From wiffle balls for Benjamin, big ol' softballs for Jess, and the crack of hardballs when Luke is up to bat.  It's enchanting.  Simply and absolutely enchanting!

Game time! 

Jessica at bat...  I swell with pride as I think of her up to bat.  Confident.  Low in her stance.  Waiting for her pitch.  I love that even though most girls can't pitch, she swings at anything close.  She WANTS to hit that ball!  She wants to feel that connection and send the ball flying.  Yet, she strikes out her fair share.  Even so, her confidence never wavers.  I know if I were at the plate, my focus would be so very different.  I'd worry that I looked stupid.  That everyone there would know I had no clue what I was doing.  I'd worry I'd strike out.  Again.  And people might laugh, or think terrible thoughts about me.  There'd be no chance of success, because I was too focused on everything else.  Yet, my daughter gets up there.  Again and again.  She never falters or wavers!  She focuses, in and zeros in on her target.  I love that confidence, and that I find myself cheering her on ~ loudest parent in the stands, I swear!  :) 

My Luke...  Onto my Luke and baseball!  My oldest boy has always been a natural athlete.  (He must get it from his mother!  hahahaha!)  I love that even though he's often the youngest on his team, he always plays hard.  One of my first Luke baseball memories.  I'm sitting on the bleachers surrounded by baseball moms watching the first practice.  Many parents know each other and are happily chatting.  Friendly moms start to introduce themselves to new faces ~ asking who their son is, what grade is he in, etc.  I start to cringe.  I try to sink down into my seat...  Hoping that I don't draw the attention of anyone.  Inevitably, I do.  A parent catches my eye and asks who my boy is.  I point out Luke and try to focus my attention back to the field.  But she continues.  "How old is he?" she innocently asks.  This is what I was dreading...  Luke is 6.  His teammates are 8.  There's a 7 or two, but Luke is by far the youngest.  I swear I immediately had the attention of every parent on the bench.  Some were calling up the rec on their cell phones!  ;)  Just then, Luke at shortstop, made an amazing catch.  As he crashed to the ground, ball still in the glove, the parents visibly relaxed and mumbled...  Oh, oh, he's pretty good!  I relaxed and secretly thanked Luke for that!  :) 

But, back to Luke actually playing!  Again, he plays hard.  He plays tough.  He's always trying to run faster, hit harder, throw better.  Doesn't matter if he's at practice or a game.  He's always giving 110%.  Even those last 10 minutes when practice is almost over!  ;)  I love that Luke takes it all in stride.  Playing in a tournament game last year, he hit three homeruns over the fence.  All in the same game.  Even drew the attention of the opponents coach.  I yelled, screamed, and cheered!  It was amazing!  What a way to end the tourney.  Yet, at his next league game, he struck out twice.  He kept at it though.  He keeps working, practicing, and trying harder to continue to challenge himself. 

And my Benjamin...  Little Benny.  Playing tee ball at 4 years old.  You know what it is...  Kid hits the ball, and everyone in the field runs to get it.  The little one who hit the ball has no idea where to go.  When the ball is fielded, coaches yell, "Throw it to first!"  Even though first baseman is tangled up in the crowd who went for the ball.  :)  Then there's Benjamin.  He's been dragged to games since he was born!  He's been on the field already this season and knows where to run!  He understands fielding a bit, because we all do it, and try to get each other out!  (Funny how the family can never catch Ben!  Hehe)  And I laugh at my little man as I watch him out at first.  Standing on the base, with a helmet two sizes too big...  The coach is trying to make sure he knows where to go.  I can almost hear as he rolls his eyes and says his favorite line, "I knooo-ooowww!"  (Making it a two syllable word.)  I giggle as I watch him chatting to the coach/ high school kid with a summer job.  Benjamin is actually out there telling stories while he's waiting for his teammate to hit the ball.  As we laugh and watch his expressive demeanor, Ben actually uses "air quotes" in his story!  What could he possibly be saying that needed air quotes?  And yet, I know from past experience, he knows exactly how to use them effectively!  :)  I can't wait to watch mob ball again!  I can't wait for when the reverse the bat order, and Ben is last.  After coming in at home, I love hearing him say he can't believe he hit a home run!  :)

So ready for the season!  :)  LOVE EVERY MOMENT OF IT!  :)