Today was the last game of the season, which would lead one (ok, me) to believe that's the end. You know. Of the... season. Ah, to be the uninitiated first-year mom. No, no, silly woman. Now it's time for tournaments.
Tournaments? Didn't we play tournaments back in March?
No, no, those were pre-season tournaments.
As opposed to post-season tournaments?
No, as opposed to tournaments.
Oh. I think I need a sno-cone.
John's team lost today. I don't know the score, but it was by one point. And you know, it was the absolute best game all season. The very best. Both teams played their wee little hearts out. Both sets of coaches were encouraging and nurturing and positive toward their players. The refs were good. The stands were packed. Both teams could field the ball fairly well (for this age bracket), and the spectators on both sides were generous with their applause and shouts of "good play," "way to hustle," and "good swing," no matter which team the children were on. If only there'd been a bit of a breeze, and the Snack Shack hadn't broken the sno-cone machine, it would have been a perfect day.
We have one little roly-poly guy on the team who is just so sweet and has worked so hard this season. All of the kids have improved in some aspect, all of them. But he has really gone above and beyond in several areas. Today he came up to bat in the kind of set-up they put in full Cheez-Whiz sentimental movies: two on base, two outs, bottom of the inning, he had two strikes, and we were down by one. (No pressure!) He smacked that ball like nobody's business and made it to second base, bringing in two runs in the process. The crowd, on both sides of the stands, went absolutely wild. I'm not the only one that got teary-eyed. Granted, the other lady is pregnant and she cried at the last practice, too, but still. It wasn't just me. You could see the smile on his face from clear across the field. We thought for sure he'd get the game ball for that.
But, no. The game ball went to a kid who ran from first to second, freaked out at the dogpile on the baseline in front of second, and bolted back to first. When the kid from the other team started getting close enough to tag him out, he actually tried shoving the girl on first base off the base so he could be safe and she'd... go back to batting? I don't know, but he was pretty certain she didn't need to be there if it would save him. None of us is sure what he did later in the game to earn the gameball. Maybe it was just his willingness to get back out there after being run down and tagged out like that. *shrug*
John came up to bat in the last inning with two outs, and we were down by one again. He hit it and the other team fielded the ball really well. He was out, and my heart sank for him. But he was okay with it. No fits, no ugly conduct. He just gave us his little cockeyed grin that said, "Well, I tried," and we (not just Zorak and James and I, but everybody in the stands) gave him encouragement. I noticed his coach gave him an encouraging pat as he ran back to the dugout, as well. The kid was well over it, and looking forward to a sno-cone by then, but it did a lot for this Mama's heart to see someone else encourage these kids the way I would. It's nice to gather around you that team that's coming from the same place you are, and looking to help encourage your children in the same direction you are encouraging them. That's enough to have made the season worth it, in my opinion.
All the kids did well, and when our guys gave the other team random kudos ("Hey, great game, guys!" and "Congrats. You all played a fantastic game!"), that other team just bubbled with pride. It was the pride of a job well done, too, not a haughty, nasty pride. It was a good thing. Their coaches, their parents, have instilled the kind of sportsmanship in them that more communities need. Good kids, all around. Good game, all around. And I'd say good season, all around... but I'm starting to think it never ends. :-S
We'll have two in football this fall, and it looks like we may have three in baseball next spring. It's catching!
Kiss those babies!
~Dy
4 comments:
Oh, Dy. You don't know the worst of it yet, do you?
There's a WHOLE 'NOTHER season after this one when they get a bit older.
Yup.
Matt and I keep passing the football registration forms back and forth. So, you read it? Um-hmm. What do you think? Um, er...hey they want a report card, what will we do for that? Oh, I don't know. Oh, look outside! A birdie!
Anything to end the conversation :)
I've heard rumors of this thing called "All Stars". Fortunately, that may never be an issue for my kids. :-) Tell me that's all... there isn't another... anything... hiding in the schedule...
ROFL @ the football discussion! That's pretty much what ours sound like now that both boys have decided to play. And when I bring up the whole "two kids, two practices, two fields at the same time" thing... Zorak gets pretty darned good at pretending he's a mime. :-S
Dy
Oh- I'm sorry. Who are you? I thought that this was my friend Dy's blog. I must have gotten here by mistake. ;-)
SO glad that you guys had a good year. It really IS fun. We have learned alot. Not just about the game, but about human nature, about our community, and about real-life competition.
Let me know how football goes. Here, it's just too much for our schedule!
Dy,
You will love football, we love baseball also, but we are a football family. I am a little biased but the coaches make all the difference. We have kids that come up to Rusty in the store and on the street to hug him and he just eats it up. He loves everyone of those kids.
Post a Comment