Saturday in the Park

In the mid-80's, the Bangles sang about Manic Mondays.  For our families, it's the Saturdays that are m manic, especially in the fall.  And we wouldn't have it any other way.

JP had a baseball doubleheader in Franklin at 9 and 11 a.m., Joe had a soccer game at 9:50 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Joe had a baseball game at Warner Park at 3 p.m., and JP had a baseball game in Franklin at 4:15 p.m.  Whew!

The final tally?  JP's Dodgers swept both games, Joe won his soccer game, Joe won his baseball game, and JP's basketball team got blown out.  4 - 1 on the day.  Not too shabby.

JP played more catcher than normal in his games.  Our regular catcher, Nico, is out this fall after breaking his wrist at camp toward the end of our spring/summer baseball season.  He pitched, too, and was rusty, which was to be expected.  He got on base several times and ran the bases well, as he always does.  

In his last at bat, he ripped a legit curve ball into right field for a single.  For some reason, JP always has been able to hit a curve ball.  He keeps his hands back, waits on it, then generally hits a line drive to right center field.  That's precisely what he did yesterday.

It was funny watching the look on some of our batters faces after they saw a curve ball, some for the first time.  The kid pitching for the Franklin team had the best curve ball we've seen, a 12 to 6 pitch that he could control reasonably well.  A couple of our boys - Cyrus and Eli - struck out looking at a curve ball.  As they jogged back to the dugout, they had puzzled looks on their faces, like someone had changed the laws of physics and not told them about it.

Senor Smoke (aka Benton) got us out of a jam and picked up the save in Game 1.  He protected a two run lead by retiring the three batters in order in the last inning.  Two strikeouts to end the game, the last one looking.  A "rec league" strikeout the umpired laughingly called it after the game when I ran into him in the parking lot.  He wanted the Franklin team to swing the bat late int he game.  I agreed.

Benton played, maybe, his most complete game he's ever played for me.  That's saying something because he's been a Dodger from the beginning, eight or nine years ago.  He pitched great and with control, hit the ball well, ran the bases extremely well, and made an outstanding play at first base in the last inning of Game 2.  He also offered to catch because he knew we were short on catchers.  Watching him mature - because he battled his emotions - has been one of the best things for me about coaching these boys over the years. 

In Joe's game, he was 2 - 2 with a pair of hard, line drive singles to center field.  The pitcher wasn't throwing particularly hard but still, it was nice and consistent hitting.  He fielded a ground ball at shortstop and threw the batter out at first base on the play late in the game.  At age 9, not a lot of boys in our league make that play.  Joe loves baseball, for sure.  He's set to start at pitcher in the game this Saturday, which should be fun to watch.

After Joe and I got home, I dropped him off with Jude and JP and went to Burger Up to pick up takeout.  Mostly, I wanted to sit at the bar for a half hour, have a drink, and unwind.  For me, that's always enjoyable after a Saturday full of coaching baseball or, occasionally, basketball.  It helps me decompress after being "on" all day.  I got our dinner and it was back home for some Saturday night football.  

Sunday morning, JP and I went for a 5 mile run in the 'hood, finishing at Portland Brew.  We ran a quick pace, 7:50 per mile.  He could have gone faster but it was a good training pace for him.  For me, it was a tough run.  The Kid can run.

Now, as I finish my Monday morning coffee at Portland Brew, it's off to the races, with a 7:45 a.m. call to a new client and an 8:30 a.m. meeting with a current client.  Maybe it's another Manic Monday after all.

I found this in my bucket of baseballs while pitching the boys batting practice weekend before last.  One of my coaches - Tom - had his son, Riley, sign it when he was first learning to play baseball.  He'd lost it - probably because Riley brought it to a practice at some point and it found its way into my bucket of baseballs.  Tom wanted it for a keepsake and it made me happy to return it to him.  

It's funny, the things we remember as parents - the moments that are so special to us - our kids often don't think twice about them.  One day, when they're parents, they will.  The world turns and life loves on.