The game...

Dillon has two major sports that he plays. If he had his choice, it would be more, much more, but I had to simplify things so I had him choose a summer sport and his hockey. He chose baseball and this is his second season. This season he is on a kid pitch team for 9 and 10 year olds.

They have practice on Tuesday afternoons, and at this week's practice there was an incident that changed things....

The team had broken into two groups. One group was playing a regular game set up with one player batting until they got 5 hits, then the player would run the bases while his teammates tried to tag him out. The other group was practicing batting as well, but the coach was continuously throwing balls to the batter, so quickly that the batter barely had time to re-set his stance before the next ball was there to hit. Dillon had just moved over to the second grouping when it happened. He was out in the field catching and returning balls to the coach when he was stung by a bee!

He was sent into the rec center for treatment, not even stopping to tell his mom what happened! I didn't know until he came back out and had an ice pack on his head. (bad mom moment here so beware) I noticed that the team was starting to pack things up and I was upset because Dillon had not yet had a chance to bat. He was heading back out to the second field when the coach was heading in. I yelled out to Dillon, but was really talking to the coach, "you haven't had a chance at batting practice yet!" (yes, my child was just hurt and I was egging him on back into practice, I told you, bad mom moment)

The coach hears me and begins to meander my way. He gives me a line about how he wants to make sure Dillon will be okay to play in the big game tomorrow (Wed) and doesn't want him to get hurt any further. Hang on... this isn't pretty... I reply... that's all well and good and all, if he ever played in the game. He is usually sittin' the bench or stuck in the outfield. He never sees any action.

Coach- well, we'll make sure he sees some action tomorrow then.

Me- And did he ever tell you that he is a hockey goalie?

Coach- well, he does have good hand eye coordination.

Me- yeah...

Coach- has he ever played catcher?

Me- nope, but he might like to try. What he really likes to play is short stop or second base.

Coach- really... okay then. We'll see him in the game tomorrow.



It's now game time... Wednesday night... late start... Maga and Papa are here to watch... Dillon is in the game. He is posted at second base.



His first at bat isn't great. He strikes out swinging, but he looks good at bat.



It is now late in the game. Dillon played in the first couple of innings and has been sittin' pine for a couple. The game is tied. We are going into extra innings.

The other team bats first. Our pitcher is tired. He walks the first few batters. Then we start getting them out.

One.

Two.

Three outs! We're up.

The first batter is up. He swings and hits. Makes it to first.
The next batter is walked.
The next batter is walked.
The bases are full.
The next batter is struck out.
The next batter is struck out.

Guess who is up to bat next? Big D.
Maga leans over to me. "I can't stand it! There are two outs and he is up to bat!"
I reply "are you kidding? He is loving it! He is out there thinking that this is his moment. He is going to swing and clear those bases."

First pitch... he swings and misses.

Second pitch... the ball is out of here! He hits it right over second base. The player gets under it to try for the catch... he drops it!

DILLON SCORES THE WINNING RUN!!!
His team sweeps him up and ushers him to the first spot on the hand shake line. He is the hero of the night!



That will teach that coach to mess with a mama bear! =)