Summer Baseball

C’s summer baseball league is winding down. Not that it ever really wound up. Summer league is thankfully, enjoyably fun. No keeping score, no worries about homework or the school bus the next morning. No pressure, just playing late into summer evenings.

This week is especially relaxed as about half of all the players seem to have left town. Monday night only ten kids total showed up between the two teams, so the coaches improvised a little and played with the kids.

Last night only eight kids showed up, and again the coaches improvised. Then C asked his coach if M could play, too. Sure, the coach said, get him out here.

M is not technically old enough for summer league baseball. The kids are supposed to be at least eight and M is only seven. He was disappointed with this early in the summer, but found ways to entertain himself at the games. Still, last night, he was thrilled with the opportunity to get out and play with the big kids – and even though he was wearing only Crocs.

M played his heart out with the big kids. He loved every moment of it. He ran harder and with more determination than the big boys. Then the big boys started to notice this and started trying a little harder themselves. Then M poured it on just a little bit more - and some of those big boys were getting tired trying to keep up.

M held his own, and then some. He had some good hits, made some great plays. He had fun. He played with a grin on his face.

The coach noticed. The coach high-fived him several times and at the end of the game, asked him to join the team…officially join the team. There will be a uniform shirt waiting at the game tonight for M, and a hat.

It doesn’t matter that tonight is the last game of the season. M is so excited. He is one of the big kids now.