If you follow me on Instagram, you may have already seen that t-ball started last week. I wasn’t able to get photos at the first two games; Mr. Andi was out of town for work so I had to play the role of Nathan-herder/coach. Coach “Saint” Brian moved up to peanut this fall, so we have a new, and equally optimistic, coach this season, Mr. Andru. If you know anything at all about baseball you will know immediately why I described him as optimistic when you look at the next photo.
Yes, that really is Nathan at pitcher.
The good news about this season of t-ball is that Nathan is doing a much better job paying attention, is hitting a lot better (with fewer fake strikes and fouls to prolong the at-bat) – he hit a surprisingly good line drive toward third on Monday. He has fielded some balls, including two in the very first game, and has remembered to run from second to third without delay (almost) every time. We didn’t work with him over the summer, but it’s obvious that he’s matured, and since most of the kids this season haven’t played before, he looks even better not all that bad by comparison.
The bad news is that he still doesn’t wholly understand the “why” of t-ball, so he doesn’t always display the level of urgency that one might hope for in a competition. For example, he was not very effective at pitcher, and he doesn’t run as fast as he could because of his propensity to cheese at the people in the stands.
My favorite incident from these first four games was last night. Because I was on the field at the first game at base coach, I obliged him with a high five (and fist bump, and various other hand signs, followed by a hug), and he apparently has decided he likes that form of positive feedback. When he made it to second last night, he stuck out his hand in the direction of the other team’s outfield coach…who wasn’t standing all that close to him. After a minute, the guy humored him with a high five, and was then obligated to complete the entire ritual, including the hug.
Yeah, I know…we are working on this hugging strangers thing…
Thankfully, Mr. Andi is back this week so I get to go back to the bleachers with my camera and my worrying and my obnoxious voice.
But this season, I’m a little more relaxed and a little less worried, because in fall ball they don’t keep score and there are no standings. It’s just a whole lot of fun.
