My son played his first weeknight baseball game of the year on Thursday night. They played a team for the 4th time this year; they had lost the previous three times. This time was different; they won 15-2.
Growing up, we used to always play weeknight games all the time; I don’t recall playing a lot of weekend games, like my son does today. It was a lot different back then when I played. There were no travel teams. I’m sure there were, but… it was really just your neighborhood park baseball league. Our team was sponsored by the local Boys and Girls Club. The Boys Club was 2 blocks from my house; the park we played at, was less than that the other way. Between our backyard, the Boys Club, and the park, we spent hours after hours during the summer. But yeah, our games were during the week mostly. It was easier for everybody, since we were all local. Now, with the travel schedule, and because more kids come from further away than before, I guess weekends work out the best. Either way it’s fine with me. 4pm practice on Friday afternoon is tough though. My son would get out of school at 3pm, have to go home and change, then we’d have to get on the road to drive there… at that time, the approximate 6 mile drive takes about 30 minutes. We’ve been late almost every week.
This Thursday night game started at 530, so we had plenty of time. Actually had some extra fans in attendance for this game, with my dad and my buddy from work showing up to the game. My son got a hit in his first AB, but then made outs the next couple times. For the season, he’s batting 9 for 26, which is good for a .346 batting average; not bad for one of the youngest kids in this league playing his 3rd favorite sport… haha. I hope he continues to play ball. I think the more he plays, the better he’d be. Waiting for him to get back on the mound. Since I’m not coaching, he needs to show these other guys how good of a pitcher he is; he always needs to open his mouth and volunteer for it. He’s pitched twice this season; the first outing rough, the second outing really good. Hope he gets another chance soon.
There are 4 more games left in the regular season, before the playoffs which every team makes. Baseball season used to last until we went right back to school when I was a kid; now it’s over by early July… to allow for the kids to have some kind of summer I guess and/or probably to accommodate the travel world of baseball. Once baseball finishes, he’ll have only swimming the rest of the summer, before he starts his last year in grammar school, and plays all the sports at least one more time. Oh yeah, speaking about that… Friday was his last day of 7th grade. School is out!
Leave a Reply