The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (except for Christmas)!
Not to sound like James Earl Jones in Field of Dreams, "But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game -- it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good, and it could be again. People will come, Ray. People will most definitely come." Okay okay you get the point. Growing up a Minnesota Twins fan and having a crazy obsession for Kirby Puckett, I've always appreciated the simplicity of sitting at a ball field and enjoying the sights, smells, and sounds of a ball game. I remember fondly heading to Kansas City to watch the Royals take on the Minnesota Twins. I was the "fan girl" who was screaming into the dugout for Kirby to come out and give me a wave, a hey, a ball, anything. Sure enough, out of the dugout he comes tosses me a ball. Another young kid grabbed for it, we both had our hands on it, jockeying for control. I ended up biting the kid and running as fast as I could up the stadium stairs at Kaufman Stadium holding on tightly to my newly acquired Kirby Puckett ball.
Summers in Omaha were spent at the College World Series and when I started college, I had the freaking amazing job of selling merchandise down the 3rd base line at Rosenblatt. Julie and I would take turns watching the games in the press box, sitting next to whatever team was up next for the night game. Conversations were had with Augie Garrido, Huston Street, and so many more. Is this Heaven? This love affair with the CWS continued to my kids and their buddies. Heading down to games and taking in the practices, games, and all of the hoopla that comes with this magical time of year.
So what luck when I met and fell in love with a baseball coach. :) The night we got engaged we headed to Lincoln to watch the Huskers in a regional baseball game. We planned our entire wedding around baseball season. When else do you get married to a baseball coach but in December??!! We just happened to pick the ice storm of the century to celebrate our special day!!! (That day deserves a blog post all to itself) My happy place in the spring was down the first base sideline cheering on my husband and his Lopers at Memorial Field. The players, parents, and Loper Faithful were our family. Our son, Cody Jon, was named after two of my husband's most favorite humans and players that he coached. We had to plan his delivery around the RMAC Baseball tournament and thankfully our doctor was AMAZING and understood the need for induction so my husband could join me at the delivery of our first child before heading off to Colorado to coach in the conference tournament.
Our kids have always had their choice of what they want to play, their passions, their hobbies... but its no surprise that Bubba fell in love with baseball. Riding along with his dad as soon as he was able to every RMAC and MIAA series he could. He grew up with the Loper boys and had an entire team of big brothers looking out for him and teaching him the game. He was catching fly balls off of All-Americans like Dallas Schramm by the time he was 10 (mom was not too pleased with Coach Day (aka dad) that my little human was out taking rocket shots in LF... but whatever!).
Before long, our travel baseball journey was about to begin, and to be honest, I feel like it ended as soon as it began. Time raged on and we went from 10U travel ball to wrapping up his sophomore high school season in the blink of an eye. Last week I was taking pictures of the Nebraska Prime 12U White Team and I began to think back to those days and how truly special they were. So I figured I could offer one person's perspective in hopes that you soak in the moments just a little bit more.... Here are my two cents for whatever parent is starting out on this journey. This facebook post was written circa 2023 as we were wrapping up our final season with the Central Nebraska Baseball Academy team.
1. Time. Goes way too fast. Soak it all in!!!
2. Travel baseball friends. You have all become family. Through the good times and bad times, you were there! We love you all and can’t wait to follow the next chapter of your son’s journey!
3. Baseball pants. It's a losing battle. I don't try! Join me, it's liberating!
4. As much as you may want to be a mama bear, let them fly! (But still make sure their crap is packed for the weekend!)
5. This game. It's hard. It'll eat you up and spit you out. Much like life sometimes. Which is why I love it. Teaching lessons my son will never forget. Parents with littles playing this game….. let them fail. I've watched my kid give up the save on a homer or go 0-4 on the day... I'd like to think that these times are going to help prepare him for when it really gets tough in life. The sun... it came up the next day.
6. Be careful with the fireball. You always want to keep it classy! LOL! If you know, you know.
7. Neighbors. Many apologies for the lawn, messy house, endless laundry, train wreck of a garage during the baseball season!!!! Can't promise it'll get better in this next season- but we can always hope.
8. Check in with your kid. Remember….Their journey, not yours. I'm just the uber driver who happens to get to be his biggest fan.
9. Parents of littles, Please don't yell, "just throw strikes." Or any other one liner you think is helpful. This game is hard. One of my friends reminded me of this many years ago. I promise, they are trying.
10. Keep reminding them... their identity is not in baseball but in Christ. They just happen to get to honor the gifts they have been given. But an error or 0-3 day is not who they are... simply something they did.
Now a new season has begun with new challenges and new opportunities. I have loved meeting a new crew of teammates and parents and following their son's journey in this new chapter of life. As I read back the list written two years. ago, here are a few of the things I'll add to a couple of those tidbits!!!
It is still so hard to let them go and fly on their own but considering we are two short years away from him flying the coop, perhaps he needs to live and learn and find out what happens when crap ain't packed!
What I thought was tough at 10U is nothing compared to the pressure and heart ache these boys can experience as they get older. The time, dedication, and attention to their craft is a lot. So the tough days are just a little tougher. Sure, I'll throw in a Jimmy Dugan quote. "It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard... is what makes it great."
Check in with your kid. Remember….Their journey, not yours. I'm just the Uber driver who happens to get to be his biggest fan. I will stand by this and die on a hill for it. Every year we touch base with our kid. Still want to be on this journey? If you want to start the engine and go- then we'll help you chase the dream.
Keep reminding them... their identity is not in baseball but in Christ. They just happen to get to honor the gifts they have been given. But an error or 0-3 day is not who they are... simply something they did. YES YES YES AND AMEN. You are a child of God who happens to play baseball.
So enjoy this most wonderful time of the year.... the crack of the bat, the smell of the grass, and the grill firing up the dogs.
And remember... only 264 until the MOST wonderfuller time of the year!!!!
