Baseball again...

"Take me out to the ball game,

Take me out with the crowd;

Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack,

I don't care if I never get back.

Let me root, root, root for the home team,

If they don't win, it's a shame.

For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out,

           At the old ball game."     

 --Jack Norworth

I love the game of baseball.  I suppose that is because I lived across the street from a baseball field in my growing up years.  I spent most of my free time either watching, or playing a game of pick up ball with my neighborhood friends.  I wanted to be on a team so badly, but back then, girls were not allowed to play.  My grandfather taught me how to throw correctly...not like a girl.  My dad and I played catch, or whiffle ball all the time.  When I was 14, I was asked to play on a women's fast pitch softball team. Since you had to be 16 to play, I was 16 for three years.  I started off in the outfield, but soon became the second baseman, and later the catcher.  In college I played shortstop, and that was my position for the rest of my softball years. 

When my boys came along, I made baseball players out of them.  One was the pitcher/first baseman, and the other a catcher.  I have done my share of playing, and cheering from the bleachers.  Now, I start with a second generation with my grandson.  I sure hope he learns to the love the sport.  It was so fun to watch these 4 and 5 year olds out on the field.  Such bundles of cuteness, and short attention spans.  For them, there are no outs.  Everyone bats, then the next team's players bat.  After three strikes with the coaches pitching to them, they get the T.  I think that is a great way to introduce the sport.  Games are an hour.  

My grandson plays on "The Brewers" team.  We donned our T-shirts, stadium seats, and headed for his first ballgame yesterday.  He looks like he is going to be another Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, or Nolan Ryan for sure. 

He's focused...

In the right picture, you can see the ball he hit in the right upper part of the picture.  Looks like a home run to me!

The player and his glove are one.

Here he's playing second base, by standing on it.  No one is going to get on base with him there.

Watching...

Here he is playing first base...okay, maybe he is a little distracted.  It sure looks like good dirt though.  His daddy did the same thing when he played ball.  Like father, like son!

It was sure good to get back to the ball field again.  It is going to be a great ball season!