It's baseball season, spring soon to roll into summer, and I couldn't be happier. There is no place I'd rather be that on a baseball field, coaching. It doesn't matter if it's a practice or a game. Along with running, it's the activity in my life that brings me the most joy.
I've had to adapt this spring to watching JP and his middle school team play baseball, as opposed to coaching him, and them. It's been an adjustment, for sure, but one I've enjoyed, as well. Although work has made it difficult to get to some of the games, given the 4:15/4:30 pm start times, I've made it to most of them.
For the most part, JP has played on the A team for MBA, as the only 7th grader on the 8th grade team. Although he hasn't seen a lot of playing time, it's been good for him to play with the 8th graders. The A team gets priority on practice time and scheduled games and I'm glad he's gotten the work in with better players. JP's a team player and he's done everything asked of him, playing backup catcher, right and left field, and second base. For right now, anyway, he's the ultimate utility player.
Friday, his team played it's last game of the regular season against Catholic (a parochial school all-star team). MBA got up big, early, and was leading 10-2 by the end of the third inning, when Coach Martin began substituting freely. Ethan (one of my Dodgers) batted and struck out. J.D. (also an occasional Dodger and a longtime member of the Dirtbags) came in to play third base and JP came in to play right field.
Unfortunately, a melange (I love that word) of walks and errors allowed Catholic to score six runs in the top of the 4th inning. In the bottom of the 4th inning, with JP on deck, J.D. had a tremendous at bat, 13 or 14 pitches. He fouled off 7 or 8 balls, then worked the pitcher for a walk, which left runners on first and third, with two outs, and JP at bat. MBA needed an insurance run and JP needed a hit, to continue to build his confidence if nothing else.
This is where the watching gets tough for me. I always sit to the left, behind the backstop, in a camping chair, usually still wearing my coat and tie from work. I was nervous, not for me but for JP, because I wanted him to taste a little success. I wanted to see him deliver in a clutch situation. I knew that would be big for him.
JP watched a first pitch strike, as he usually does. I like the fact that JP is not afraid to go deep in the count against any pitcher. I think he likes to see a pitch or two and because he is a very good curve ball hitter, he's not afraid to get behind when he's batting. I do wish he'd be a little more aggressive at the plate sometimes but his approach is his approach, and it's been successful by and large.
The second pitch was down the middle but a little high, a border line strike. JP fouled is straight back, which meant he had timed the pitcher up. That's assuming, of course, the pitcher didn't throw him a curve ball or changeup next, always a possibility at this age. My heart began to beat a little harder in my chest, as I watched JP in what I like to call a high leverage baseball situation. Runners on first and third, two outs, two strikes.
The third pitch was a fastball, again down the middle and a little high. Too close to take. Hands back. Left foot stepping forward as the pitch approached. Hips rotating. JP swung and the first thing I noticed was the sound - indescribable, really - of a composite bat barreling up a baseball. Almost startling in its volume. I watched as ball flew straight and hard into left field, through the gap between third base and shortstop. A clean, well struck line drive into left field. An RBI single.
Instinctively and spontaneously, I jumped up from my seat, clapped my hands together and yelled, "JP! Way to go, JP!" Sheepishly, I sat down rather quickly, surprised by the intensity of the moment. In that instant, though, I felt such pride. I also felt a sense of relief, too. Mostly, I was happy for JP.
As he ran to first and rounded the base, JP's teammates in the dugout - to my immediate left - erupted in cheers for him. A clutch hit that stretched the lead to 11-8. The next batter made an out, the Drake closed out of the win with a 1-2-3 bottom of the 5th inning. Another win for the Big Red and a clutch hit for JP.
It was a good ride home.
Yesterday, Joe's Diamondback had a doubleheader. Joe was playing both ends following a morning soccer game. I was little concerned that Joe was starting at pitcher in the first game, then catching the second game, given it would be our first warm afternoon of the spring - 85 degrees - on the heels of non-stop running for his soccer game. As always, though, Joe is a gamer and my concern was misplaced.
He pitched well for three innings, throwing slightly more than 50 pitches. When I asked him how he felt after the first two innings, he looked at me incredulously and said, "I'm good, Dad. I want to keep pitching." Joe.
He doesn't throw hard - certainly not as hard as Oliver's son, Preston - but he's accurate, just like JP at that age. The similarities are uncanny, really, in how they pitch and in their approach. JP and Joe both have grit and never are afraid of the moment. I love that about both of them. Joe can heat it up on occasion but he doesn't constantly throw hard. That will come in time, I think.
After an easy win in the first game, Joe caught Preston in the second game. Although he's not caught all season, he did well. Preston was dialed in on the mound, more so than he has been all season. Through three innings, he was pitching a perfect game, something I've never seen in youth baseball. Economical with his pitches and throwing gas, the other team didn't have much of a chance. Rex, in centerfield, caught a fly ball in the second or third inning to preserve the perfecto.
Finally, in the top of the 4th inning, the leadoff hitter drilled a ground ball right back at Preston, who got his glove on it. Ram, at shortstop fielded the deflected ball cleanly and threw it to Nico at first base but the runner beat the throw. Clear base hit, although Preston wanted it to be an error, which would at least preserve the no hitter. Afterwards, he was disappointed, at least initially, to lose the perfect game and the no hitter on the same play.
Final score, 20-0.
I was proud of Joe, who hit well, particularly in the second game. Several boys had big hits. Ram hit a line drive up the middle, something he has been looking to do for a while. George followed up a strikeout, looking, with a triple, which was big for him. Nash absolutely smoked two ground balls, one of which rolled almost to the fence, as he ended up with a triple, as well.
I coached first base int he sedan game, which I love because it gives me a chance to interact with the boys, individually, and coach them up during the game. Leadoffs after the pitch crossed home plate, stealing second base, not running into a tag when there is not a force play at third base, etc. Baseball stuff.
As I sat on our back deck late yesterday afternoon and had a Bearded Iris "Tunnel Vision" IPA, unwinding, I smiled to myself and savored the moment. A great game for JP on Friday afternoon and two great games for Joe on Saturday.
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