Clarksville

I left work early yesterday and drove to Clarksville to watch JP and MBA's junior varsity baseball team play Clarksville High School.  I hadn't been to Clarksville High School in more than three decades, as best as I can remember.  In the deep, dark recesses of my memory, I recall driving there to watch Alice play basketball once upon a time.  

I arrived early, way early, as I typically do when traveling to an unfamiliar place.  I found a coffee shop - Lucille's Cafe - around the corner from the high school and I stopped in before the game.  It was nice to take a breath and read the latest issue The Sun and sip coffee for a few minutes.  

I love traveling to out the way high schools and middle schools to watch one of the boys play sports.  It's nice to get away and, just for a couple of hours, lose myself in a baseball or soccer game, or a cross country meet.  It's a mental and emotional oasis of sorts.  Yesterday, like I do most of the time, I chatted with a couple of fathers before the game, then settled into my deluxe camping chair (a rocker) in a spot by myself.  All week long, I talk and talk and talk, and made decisions for others, so it's nice to not talk to anyone while I watch the game alone.

As I settled in and MBA batted first, I didn't recognize the peatier hitting in the two hole.  It looked like JP but I decided it wasn't him.  Too muscular.  Too big.  Plus, he usually hits lower in the lineup.  To my surprise, I heard a couple of players in the dugout saying "come on, JP!"  I looked harder and sure enough, it was him.  Number 6.  For a moment, I thought, my son looks like a college player.  Grown up.

When JP was batting the second time, MBA's varsity team walked up and several players stood behind me.  I overheard them talking, trying to figure out who was batting.  Finally, one of them pointed out that it was JP.  "He looks big," a voice from behind me said.  I laughed.  It wasn't just me.  Strange.

It was windy and cool in Clarksville, sweatshirt or coat weather to be sure.  Not cold but cool.  In a game that was stopped early - after shortly more than an hour - because the varsity teams were playing next, MBA rallied from a 4 - 1 deficit to win 5 - 4.  Will Brock pitched like a boss.  Battled and gave the boys four strong innings for the win.

JP's first time up, he hit his hardest ball of the season, a fly ball to deep left center.  The wind was blowing out and for a second, I thought it was going to get over the left fielder's head.  It didn't and he made a good catch.  In the third inning, JP laid a nifty sacrifice bunt down the third base line on a hight fast ball, not an easy ball to bunt.  That started a four run rally, which in the end, gave MBA the win.

After the tame, JP and I drove back together.  It was nice to spend a hour or so with him in the car.  I don't get that as much anymore since he is driving.  It was a pleasant afternoon all around.  

Today, JP runs in the Doug Hall Relays at MBA.  4 x 800 and the DMR (distance medley relay).  Joe plays soccer and basketball in Murfreesboro this afternoon and evening.  Jude and I will be on the go, which is the way we like it.