go Raptors!

Ryan's been playing baseball this spring for the first time.  He's always been a soccer playing kind of guy.  But he knows that Mommy likes baseball and Grandpa does too.  I didn't want to push him into anything, but after he gave it some thought, he told me he'd try baseball this spring and then he could go back to soccer in the fall. 

The season started a little slow.  As in most things unfortunately, there are politics in his league.  He's new and the coaches didn't know him and the team mom didn't know him and he got stuck in the outfield.  Which is totally fine, he even likes it, please don't hear me wrong, if that's the best spot for him I'm all about that.  My concern was that he didn't get a chance and that there was so little time spent on fundamentals and the basics of baseball.  But he's a champ.  He liked the outfield and he gave baseball one hundred percent with his Ryan-like focus.  We play catch together in the afternoons and he has improved so much.  'Can we play catch' is usually asked before we even get inside from the bus stop.  And oh boy, does he hustle on the field.  He's the first one on the field every time.  And he backs up everybody.  If the ball's hit anywhere in the outfield, he's usually the one to get it, the other outfielders are too busy playing with the grass or sitting on their bottoms or don't even have their gloves on.  I saw an outfielder on an opposing team doing somersaults one time :)  He's also a very consistent hitter.  He doesn't appear to have the natural power that some of the boys do, but he seems to squeak out a single almost every at-bat.  He's worked his way up to 6th in the lineup [out of 11 or 12, everyone hits]. 

Tonight is his second game in the end-of-season tournament.  They won their first game on Saturday to continue on [single elimination].  What a game Saturday was!  The coach called him in during the second inning to play pitcher.  It's coaches' pitch, but they have a position player there for the fielding.  He rocked pitcher!!  He stopped almost all of them and threw out, I don't know, four or five kids?  That's saying a lot in 5/6 baseball, usually contact guarantees a hit!  But what I loved most was his excitement.  He was more alive during that game than all season.  He was punching his fists and jumping up and down.  He was involved and it was awesome.  I loved seeing him love it. 

Ryan gets the tournament style elimination, and he does not want his season to end.  He is excited for tonight, and so am I!  It's going to be a great game.  I sure hope he is the pitcher again.  I've never cared about wins and losses, but I'm really hoping for a win tonight!  I'm not ready for the season to be over!  Currently, Ryan says he likes baseball, but he still likes soccer too.  He even said a few days ago that maybe he'd play baseball this fall and wait until spring to do soccer again.  We told him to think on it over the summer; we don't have to decide right now. 

Thanks for always giving it your best and for the hustle and the energy and the enthusiasm.  I love you my little all-star!!