The Night Joe Dawg Got It Done

Tuesday night, Joe's Thundersharks played their second to last game of the fall season.  And what a game it was!

It was one of those magical, memorable nights on the baseball field with Joe that will stay with me forever.  I have a few of those with J.P., too, and they're special.  Really special.

It all came together for Joe on Tuesday night.  Offensively and defensively.  And he continued to be a leader on the team, keeping other boys focused and encouraging them.  Always locked in and always vocal.  That's Joe on the baseball field. 

He continued his torrid hitting.  His first two at bats, he hit line drives up the middle.  When I asked him put an early swing on the baseball and pull the ball between third base and shortstop, he adjusted his swing and hit line drives into left field his last two at bats.  One of them went for a double with Joe sliding into second base just ahead of the throw.

Early in the game, playing first base, Joe ranged to his right and nonchalantly backhanded a hard ground ball in the hole, then trotted back to first base for the force out.  

"The Big Cat," I yelled, paying homage to Wes Taylor from J.P.'s Dodgers, the original Big Cat, so nicknamed by me one year when we played "giant pepper" after an all star practice.

"Dad," Joe replied.  There's only one Big Cat!"  I laughed my ass off, as did Chris Taylor (Wes's dad), when I told him about it later in the week.

In the bottom of the last inning, Joe played pitcher.  Coach O rotated our boys, as a result of which the infield wasn't the Thundersharks' strongest.  Other than Joe, the more experienced players were in the outfield.  Although the boys started the inning up 19-12, the other team quickly rallied.  

With one out, the based were loaded, and the score was 19-17.  The batter hit a looping line drive - not hit terribly hard - between pitcher and shortstop.  It looked like it was going to drop in for a single and score one, if not two, runs.  

Joe turned and ran toward shortstop, then leaped and caught the baseball in the air by reaching his glove, backhanded, over his right shoulder.  Truly an amazing catch.  He immediately realized the runner on third base was running toward home, so he ran to third and stepped on the bag for an unassisted game ending double play.  

Ballgame.

Joe's teammates were stunned at first, as were Coach O, all of the rest of the coaches, and me.  Then, Joe's teammates started cheering, ran to him, and mobbed him.  I smiled, shook my head in disbelief, and gave Coach O a high five.  Amazing play by an amazing boys.

After the game, Coach O spoke to the team and, as always, his message was fantastic.  Joe got the pack of baseball cards for the first time this fall season, symbolic of a player who played the game the right way.  Coach O remarked that Joe had been a leader on the team the entire fall.  And he has been.

Walking to my truck, Joe told me that he thought throwing with "Coach Glenn" at J.P.'s game the night before had prepared him to make the catch because Glenn was throwing him pop flied.  We called Glenn on the way home and he was tickled to death to hear about Joe's success.

Joe has worked hard - over the years and lately - to become the best baseball player he can be.  To see it all come together in one game is special.  

Damn near a perfect night for me.