In the wide world of sports for my son, there is cross country, basketball, swimming, baseball, and track & field. My thought process on my son playing sports has always been play as much as you can for as long as you can; I am NOT in the line of thinking that your kid must choose one sport, quit all others, and dedicate every waking minute of every day throughout the year to the one sport. No judgment, just not the right path for my son IMO. One reason I think this way is because he’s good at ALL of them! Yeah, if there was one sport he sucked at, we would have moved on by now, but… he’s an athlete, period. For any sports not on his current plate, I bet if he tried it, he’d be just fine, middle of the road, right out of the gate; this is just him. Most importantly, is he having fun? That does matter you know… He seems to enjoy it all.
If there was one sport which dangles at the bottom of the list, it would be baseball. In the 2 year range of kids playing on each level, he ends up being one of the youngest kids the first year, based on the birthday cutoff for the sport, so… he struggles a bit, hitting off kids that are almost 2 years older than him; that’s understandable. Still, he has the glove, the speed, and the arm; once his bat catches up to the pitching… It’s no secret; I love baseball. If it were up to me, he would keep playing, but… it’s not up to me. After last year, the last year of his contract, I told him he didn’t have to play any more; he immediately said he would play this year. OK, cool. After the coaching debacle, he would be playing for another coach for the first time in his life in this sport; that’s fine too. He started off the season 3-10; he’s been hitting the ball, and when he doesn’t, at least he’s been swinging the bat; only one strikeout looking so far… his first AB of the season. Saturday afternoon brought the next opportunity on the field.
Just when I feel like “giving in” and saying baseball is over, he has a game like this. He went 3 for 4 with 3 RBIs & 2 runs scored. He hit the ball hard in every single AB; my favorite was his double. I was asked to coach first base, and when his line drive to right center field bounced off the kids glove, I waved him around; he slid in safely, as the 2nd kid crossed home plate. It was a nice moment. To top if off, they brought him into pitch the last inning. 3 up, 3 down… of the strikeout variety; yes, he struck out the side. It was quite the day for the boy; baseball strikes back!
Looking ahead, as decision time looms for basketball vs swimming, being in the same season in high school, cross country stands by itself; it’s baseball vs track in the spring. There’s no guarantee that he makes the baseball team; there’s no guarantee he makes the basketball team. Swimming and the running sports, everybody makes the team I believe. How will this all play out? No clue at this moment. At the end of the day though, it’s not about what I want, it’s not about what his mother wants, it’s about what he wants. Yeah, growing up stuff… he’ll need to weigh in with his opinion on these decisions, because only he is the one that’s going to have to put in the time. Sure, we’ll drive him wherever, whenever, but I’m not running the mile, swimming a medley, making a three point jumper, running a relay, or trying to hit a baseball. That’s on him. The best is yet to come…
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