The Little Leagues

I've never seen anything funnier than Calem's first T-Ball game. It was beyond cute to see a couple dozen 3-year-olds swinging with all their might and repeatedly missing the stationary ball sitting atop a baseball Tee. And to watch those same 3-year-olds run either after the ball they'd just hit, or to 3rd base instead of 1st. And then even better to watch the chaos of the outfield. Yes, many smiles and laughs were heard throughout the hour. It is just precious to watch, and Calem really enjoys it. The kids were allowed to pick their own team name, and Calem's team has been dubbed the "Firetrucks." You have no idea how fun it is to watch them all huddle with their "Coach Ray" and yell "Go Firetrucks!!!!" all together at the top of their lungs. Their excitement level is so great, you'd think they were playing in the world series. Four weeks into playing two T-ball games a week, I am amazed at how much better these little 3-year-olds have gotten! Most of them his the ball on the first swing, now. They all know to run straight to 1st base after they hit, and the outfield has started to actually pay attention to home plate and they run for the ball and throw it to first. Chaos has turned into organization and the kids know their places and prepare for their turns. Of course, there is always the occasional kid stooping to play in the dirt around the bases, oblivious of the game going on around them. And they often run with the bat to 1st base, forgetting to drop it after hitting the ball. But the high school students who coach are very patient and the kids love them. They are learning to be part of a team, follow instructions and enjoy a sport. It's nice to see them learn a few skills in the process, and great to see Calem asking to practice at home. I'm just glad he is having f un. We have 5 games left this summer, and I'm pretty sure the Firetrucks will end with a 13-0 record.