Baseball

Owen was a Bull.  Gabe a Tiger.

Baseball season this year was good.  Good for the boys, good for the little ones, good for mom and dad.   Practice was four nights a week with games on Saturdays.   So, we spent most of our free time outside watching the boys play a little ball.

Thousands of pitches thrown and balls caught.  Hundreds of hours standing in the cul de sac, at parks, and practice fields playing catch and running the bases.    Every spare second was spent with a baseball glove and ball in hand and the minute Dad came home from work it was time to practice.

So much excitment on game days.   The boys worked so hard and learned so much over the season.  It was amazing to watch them get better each week.

Especially, Gabe.   He was placed on a team that was already established.   He was the new kid.   He had to prove himself to the the coaches and all the other kids.   Gabe sat on the bench the first 3 games of the season.   We continued to go to every practice and Gabe worked really hard.   He practiced for hours at home.  He worked hard, even in the outfield when given the chance to play.  The coaches started to notice and soon, he started playing first base.   He no longer sat on the bench.  

After each game, Owen's coaches would give one player a game ball.  To be fair, every child got one game ball.   After everyone got a ball there was three games left in the season.   Owen's coach informed the players that the game balls would go to the players that really stepped up and helped their team.   Owen informed me after his practice one afternoon that he was going to get one of those game balls.   His intensity always surprises me.  He is so competitive. 

He worked really hard for this game ball.  Paying attention every second in the outfield and catching a ground ball and getting a player out.   He put his heart in it every time he batted and hit the ball most everytime.    I was very proud of Owen for his hard work and perserverence.

I loved baseball season.   I loved watching my boys play.  I loved being outside with the little kids.   And, yes, I am glad it is over.....until next year.