Extra Innings

And just like that, it was over.

JP started in centerfield and batted eighth last night in MBA's junior varsity semifinal game against a loaded Christ Presbyterian Academy team.  Will Brock pitched valiantly for MBA and the game was tied, 1-1, after four innings.  He tired, though, and CPA scored two runs in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings to win the game, 7-1.  

CPA is an older, bigger, more experienced team, especially since they started at least one varsity baseball player, Josh VanOrman, in the game.  The boys fought the entire game and, in the end, got beat by a better team.  There is no shame in that, to be sure.  All in all, it was a good season and MBA's young team, dominated by freshman, gained valuable experience that will pay off down the line.  I fully expect the core of this group to contend for state championships in 2027 and 2028.

JP couldn't quite catch a deep fly ball hit over his head, close to the wall, in dead center field, in the second inning.  The official scorer ruled it a hit but I think JP would like to have caught it.  He got turned around a bit as he tried to go back on the baseball, which happened once earlier in the season.  He's had to learn to play outfield on the fly this season as, for the most part, he's been an infielder his entire baseball career.  He's versatile, though, so he's made it work.  He's made some nice plays, too.

In his only at bat, JP struck out against a very good CPA pitcher who only allowed a couple of hits in six innings.  What I liked - no, what I loved - about the at bat was that JP went down swinging.  All three strikes were balls he swung at and, on top of that, he fouled a pitch off, too.  If memory serves, the count was 1-2 when he struck out.

JP went down swinging.

As a father, that's all I can ask for.  Step into the box against a very good pitcher, throwing hard, and get your hacks in.  Let the rest take care of itself.  In baseball and in life, that's a pretty good philosophy.  Get your hacks in and go down swinging.  

After he batted, Coach Anderson pulled JP, and Whitt went in to play centerfield.  Honestly, I was okay with that.  I very much appreciated that Coach Anderson started JP and got him an at bat.  Whitt is a good ballplayer, had family there, too, and deserved to play.

JP had quite a contingent of fans there to support him.  Jude, Joe, Jane, Jim, Tracy, Alice, Jerry, and me, all  sitting in camping chairs along the fence between the bleachers and MBA's third base dugout.  Gavin O'Heir sat with us, as well, entertaining everyone with his banter.  Of all of the friends I've made watching JP play baseball, he's probably my favorite.  Boston born and bred, I feel like I've known him all of my life.

It was a good, suspenseful high school baseball game.  

For me, it wasn't about that game.  It was about the hundreds of games that came before it.  Fields 4 and 5 at Harpeth Hills Church of Christ in WNSL's Wookie league with me on one knee, pitching to four and five year old boys, including JP.  Machine pitch games in Warner Park on fields 2, 3, and 4 in the Rookie League.  Kid pitch baseball, also on fields 2, 3, and 4 in the Minor League.  Big boy baseball on regulation fields - 1 and 5 and Warner Park - in the Major League and the Prep League.

And, of course, All-Star games and travel baseball games in ballparks all over Middle and East Tennessee.  

Brutally hot summer days in June and July and cold nights in October.  Coaching in so many different dugouts, followed the last few years by camping chairs and quiet conversation as I watched JP play for other coaches.  All of it.  

And just like that, it was over.

Surprisingly, this morning I feel relieved more than sad.  I realize that will probably change.  Perhaps it's because JP tweaked his knee coming out of the box on a ground ball Friday night, so much so that he cut his running workout short on Saturday morning.  I think he's okay.  Still, it was a reminder of where he feels like his focus should be now, and that's running. Cross country and track.

What makes me happy is he left baseball on his terms.  His choice, not someone else's.  And, as I said, he went down swinging.  

I'm so proud of JP.  Great teammate.  Hard worker.  Quiet leader.  Competitive.  Courageous.  All of those things and so much more.

After the game, I thanked Coach Anderson as I shook his hand.  "JP's a great boy," he said.  "A pleasure to coach."  Yes, he is.  

And just like that, it was over.

It's time to move on, it's time to get going, what lies ahead I have no way of knowing.

- Tom Petty