Play Ball!

From Brad.

Well, I guess being a single dad for a few days has got me in the blogging mood. Amy's been in Louisville for the past few days attending a retreat, so I've been going solo...and really having a great time with it. I know we haven't blogged for a while, being here in the states can really keep you busy. I guess the main reason I wanted to blog was to share my joyful little league baseball experience with you.

In Asia, it was not uncommon for the boys and me to venture outside with a baseball bat and a few balls in hand. We'd turn the tennis court into a makeshift baseball diamond (a bit lopsided at that). Peter and Alex have always enjoyed taking some swings, and I've always enjoyed helping them understand and like the game I loved as a little guy (and even now although I've dropped the adj 'little'). So when we knew we'd be back in the states for a while, I really wanted to get them involved in little league baseball. I found a Fall league that would allow me to manage my own team (a requirement of mine since I've heard of a few horror stories of overzealous parents/coaches). We've played 8 games so far and I must say it has been a great experience for all. It is a coach pitch league for 6-7 year olds.

When I drafted the team, I requested to be the Rangers (Astros were taken, Rangers are a fun, exciting team with Texas connections). They initially said ok, but then switched us to the Blue Jays b/c of a lack of Ranger uniforms. Uggg, not even an American team! :) We missed the first 2 games b/c of a family business trip to the East coast. Our team tied our first game 3-3, and lost the second 6-0. Games 3 & 4 were the first for the three Morello guys (with Savannah being our ever faithful ball girl). We lost 8-6 in the third game (first for us). I was pleasantly surprised that Peter and Alex both hit quite well and our team scored double the runs from the first two games. However, I was the pitcher the whole game and there's nobody more nervous on the field than me! I'm 40 feet away from the hitter and its overhand pitch with a hard ball. Throw it too soft and its diving straight down as it crosses the plate (hard to hit). Throw it too hard, and its too fast (also hard for these young guys to hit). Throw it inside and risk hitting a kid which at this stage would mean the end of his baseball career (they're already afraid of 'death-by-hit-batsman'). You get the picture...a perfect pitch and the kid has a shot of making contact. Anything else, it's a swing and a miss and disappointment everywhere.

Our 4th game we lost 13-2. I had lots of strikeouts, really lowered my ERA. :) Not what I wanted. We got killed and I started wondering if our team (now 0-3-1) was going to win a game all year long. But to keep things in perspective, Peter and Alex (2 of the better players) missed games 1&2, two other boys (2 of the better players) missed games 3&4. Game 5 rolled around and we Rocked! We won our first game by like 10 runs. Peter and Alex continued to hit well, and even made a couple plays in the field. However, I had never taught them baserunning. So Peter rounds 2nd base as the 2nd baseman is holding the ball right there, and Peter has no clue IT IS NOT GOOD TO STRAY OFF THE BAG. He fortunately got back to the bag because his Dad YELLED, 'get on the bag!!!'. Okay, not mean, but definitely competitive. Yikes, its not as easy as it looks to stay calm out there.

Games 5 & 6 we both won and now are on a 4 game winning streak. Now some of the 'late bloomers' who previously were joyfully watching planes fly by overhead are actually paying attention to the game and swinging in the general vicinity of the pitch :) and every now and then running into one. Peter hit a ball under the second baseman's glove last game which rolled to the fence. Due to an overthrow, he made it all the way home. According to Peter, he hit his first home run. I just couldn't bring myself to give him the facts. "Yes, Peter, you really crushed that ball!"

And were also finding some opportunities to share with some of the parents, which has been exciting. Last week, one of the Moms shared with Amy that she's been under so much stress with work and life, she just went and bought a Bible to see if it could help her. "Do you know anything about the Bible?" she asked Amy. How neat to be in that situation at that moment.

Here are the sluggers:

There's no smiling in baseball!

 Ah, maybe after a HR!

Finally got one in his wheelhouse!