A Better Subject - Baseball!

Last night, our 12-year-old baseball team won its semi-final tournament game for the right to play in the Championship game on Monday night. My son Carson plays on the Cardinals and I am the first base coach. Carson had a banner game at shortstop last night, had a couple nice hits and earned the “game ball” after the game. And I didn’t get anybody thrown out at 2^nd base!

What a great tournament performance by our team! Four BIG wins in the winner’s bracket – with the last two games invoking the “run rule” (an automatic win if leading by ten runs after four innings). This is from a team that went 6-8 during the regular season.

Something happened to this team toward the end of the season. Coaches use the phrase, “the team has gelled.” It’s hard to describe all the factors involved – and even harder to explain how it happens. It’s when a team of individuals start playing as a collective unit. You can see and feel the change in the players. The best example I can give is the electricity and enthusiasm that you’ve seen from those underdog World Series teams that just couldn’t be stopped – the Marlins, Red Sox, Angels and Diamondbacks in recent years.

I will be out of the hospital by Monday and hope I feel well enough to attend the game. And, if someone would make me a couple signs that read, “Run thru the base” “Make the turn” “Two outs, run on anything” and “Go two” – maybe I could stand in my chalked coach’s box and watch these guys win this championship. Go Cardinals!