I had a mediation cancel yesterday, which was great because it allowed me to sneak away early to watch JP play JV baseball at David Lipscomb. The Mustangs rolled MBA, 11 - 1.
It's going to be a long season, I believe, because MBA's JV team has nine freshman. Those boys are young, small, and learning that this is a big difference between 7th and 8th grade baseball and JV high school baseball. They're thin on pitching and, at least early, no one is hitting. They lost a couple of pitchers, too, who really would have helped this team, which is unfortunate. Yes, it's early, but this team just feels different, less confident, than last year's team.
What I've stressed to JP is to lead this team. It's not unlike the junior school "A" team a couple of years ago. There were very few 8th graders that played much at all. JP lead that team and he needs to lead this one. It's a real opportunity for growth for him, I think.
JP played shortstop yesterday, filling if for a freshman who strained his hamstring. Otherwise, JP has been playing center field and left field. On this team, he'd probably help more playing second base regularly but his versatility is one of his strengths on the baseball field. Always has been.
I'd like to JP pitch because I think he could help the team that way. For whatever reason, though, his coach doesn't seem to see him as a pitcher. Generally, he has good control and yesterday, our boys walked several hitters. While JP won't overpower anyone, he generally throws strikes and pitches to contact. Selfishly, as a father, I'd just like to see him on the mound again to see what he could do.
At the plate, JP walked the first time up. He battled in his second at bat, falling behind ini the count early before working it back to 3-2. After fouling a couple of pitches off, he hid a sharp grounder in the hole at shortstop, scoring a run. He was thrown out at first in a relatively close play. It was a quality at bat and I was proud of him.
The boys plays David Lipscomb again this afternoon and I'll be there, at least for part of the game. I'll leave early most likely because I teach tonight.
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