“I’M GOING TO A BASEBALL GAME!”

About fourteen years ago I went to another baseball game. A pee-wee league of three and four year olds was playing their first game. The families settled in as the team spread out on the field. The theory was, spread ‘m out and maybe the ball will hit one of them.

But wait, something was wrong. Future # 9 player was having no part of it. Bribes of bubble gum, “ice cream later”, nothing worked. He finally submitted his demand. Big brother had to go out there with him!

When he got up to bat and finally connected, his dad was yelling, “run to first, no, no that way, first.” They needn’t have worried; the outfielder who picked up the ball was giving it to another fielder, “sharing” like he learned in pre-school! And he handed it to another boy, while their dads were yelling “Throw the ball. Throw the ball!” As the game went on players wandered over to sit in mom’s lap for a while or to play with a very interesting bed of ants nearby.

Later, when the game was over the dads were grinning from ear to ear. Their boys had finally played their first baseball game. Some of those same boys are playing together on Tuesday evening on the Mountain Ridge High School team for the State Division 1 Championship!

The parents job was just beginning. They’re the ones who drove the boys to practice, coached in the early years. They helped prepare the fields, manned the refreshment stand or brought the snacks. They raised money for the organizations. They spent mega bucks on club ball for their kids to get every opportunity to play and improve each year.

The mothers have used enough bleach to fill the Grand Canyon keeping the white uniforms clean and ready to go each game. They also had to keep an eye on the younger brothers and sisters who played behind the bleachers, except when they emerged to raid mom’s purse for money for the snack stand.

The members of the team from Mountain Ridge, especially the 11 seniors, are looking for revenge. They went all the way last year and lost the final game. They all agree that it won’t happen again. They are out to win and so are their parents!

“I’M GOING TO A BASEBALL GAME!”

About fourteen years ago I went to another baseball game. A pee-wee league of three and four year olds was playing their first game. The families settled in as the team spread out on the field. The theory was, spread ‘m out and maybe the ball will hit one of them.

But wait, something was wrong. Future # 9 player was having no part of it. Bribes of bubble gum, “ice cream later”, nothing worked. He finally submitted his demand. Big brother had to go out there with him!

When he got up to bat and finally connected, his dad was yelling, “run to first, no, no that way, first.” They needn’t have worried; the outfielder who picked up the ball was giving it to another fielder, “sharing” like he learned in pre-school! And he handed it to another boy, while their dads were yelling “Throw the ball. Throw the ball!” As the game went on players wandered over to sit in mom’s lap for a while or to play with a very interesting bed of ants nearby.

Later, when the game was over the dads were grinning from ear to ear. Their boys had finally played their first baseball game. Some of those same boys are playing together on Tuesday evening on the Mountain Ridge High School team for the State Division 1 Championship!

The parents job was just beginning. They’re the ones who drove the boys to practice, coached in the early years. They helped prepare the fields, manned the refreshment stand or brought the snacks. They raised money for the organizations. They spent mega bucks on club ball for their kids to get every opportunity to play and improve each year.

The mothers have used enough bleach to fill the Grand Canyon keeping the white uniforms clean and ready to go each game. They also had to keep an eye on the younger brothers and sisters who played behind the bleachers, except when they emerged to raid mom’s purse for money for the snack stand.

The members of the team from Mountain Ridge, especially the 11 seniors, are looking for revenge. They went all the way last year and lost the final game. They all agree that it won’t happen again. They are out to win and so are their parents!