USN got gonged in the 4th inning, losing 13 - 1 or something like that. They're not a very good team and, frankly, they don't appear to be very well organized. I think the boys, and the baseball program, miss Coach Gimblette. He departed mid-semester in the fall much to the surprise of the administration, parents, and baseball players. The timing was unfortunate, as was the fact that he didn't at least work through the end of the semester or the end of the year. I feel sorry for the high school baseball players he left with little or no warning. It's not the way I would have done it, for sure. I've always said that how you leave a job is as important as how you start it.
In Joe's only at bat, he was completely overmatched by a hard throwing right hander. Three pitches, two called strikes. On the third pitch, he pulled his head out and swung and missed. Strike three. He's dropping his bat before the ball has left the pitcher's hand, which is something we tried to eliminate last summer. He's got a lot of work to do to become a better hitter. I think he's ready to start, though, so we may go hit today.
He played third base and shortstop in the first three innings of the game. On the only ball hit his way - a soft line drive in front of him at shortstop - he couldn't quite get there to catch it in the air and bobbled it before making the throw to first base, so the runner was safe. Right now, he's a gamer without the game to play against 7th and 8th graders but, again, that's to be expected at his size and age. I want him playing against older, strong, and better players because that will help him improve. It's a process.
Joe pitched the fourth inning and I was really, really proud of how he battled. He got nicked for one run but also struck out a batter, looking, when he threw him a nifty changeup. It followed a fastball so he set it up perfectly. Like his brother, he was around the strike zone and threw to contact. That's a great start, for sure.
Joe and I left for the TOA Sports Performance Center (it sounds like a bigger deal than it is) immediately after Joe's game so he could catch the second game of a doubleheader for his 6th grade Starts' basketball team. Having not watched this team play yet and knowing that his winter Stars' team struggled at times, I wasn't sure what to expect or what I would get at the game.
What I got, however, was the best game I have ever seen a team Joe is playing on play for two halves of basketball. Joe's team is extremely well coached to begin with. Every single player played hard, played defense, rebounded, and hustled. There wasn't enough sharing of the basketball for my tastes which, really, is a slight criticism because Joe's group beat a decent team by 30 + points.
There is real talent on Joe's team and, for once, a legitimate big man with real height and aggressiveness. Of course, no on the team passed him the ball in post for the entire game, which was unbelievable. After the game, I asked Joe if the big man had stolen somebody's girl friend. It looked like they were freezing him out.
What I loved about Joe's game was what I always love about Joe's game - his unselfishness. He had three or four assists, which is three or four more than anyone else on the team had in my estimation. He looks to pass first and you need players like that. He also rebounded and picked up a couple of loose balls, which isn't particular easy at his size. He hit a bucket on the baseline, too.
Joe's best friend Pike, whom I have seen play what seems like a thousand basketball games with Joe over the years, was a revelation. It's by far the most complete game I have seen Pike play. He's talented and can score but last night, finally, he hustled and worked on defense. He rebounded, too. He as aggressive and when he missed a shot, he didn't hang his head. I was really proud of Pike and I told him so after the game.
This afternoon, Joe has a soccer scrimmage because, well, of course he does. 18 hours. Three sports.
I wouldn't have it any other way.
No comments:
Post a Comment