Last Dance-Last Chance

For many of you parents, you have seen your son play his last game of HS baseball. I know this season virtually flew by, but please take the time to post your thoughts on your son's HS experience and what it has meant to you.

 

Last and still going

It was a sad day. His last game ended in defeat. In the 1st round of the playoffs (thanks umps). He and the only other senior were kind of to the side letting it sink in. I'm sure that they were feeling like what else is left. Then a teammate from the time they were in little league, though travel ball, and high school came over and stood with them. That was priceless. Buddies and pals always to the end. He was the last to leave the field. I told him how pround his mother & I were. You could see that tear in the eyes. I took his gear and he went on that last long bus ride back to the school. His hs days are numbered at only eight left counting today. Then it is over. All conferance Piedmont 3-A this year, team MVP and lettered four years. He was always a team player. He liked all of his coaches. Tried to help his teammates. He still is playing the game over the summer, will attend some camps and go off to college in the fall. Will he play at the next level? Not sure on that one. Walk on, maybe or a late pick. Who knows? But, one thing. His love for the game will never be lost. Looking ahead to the future. Baseball has taught him many lessons. He plans on going into education. So, be ready in a few years. He may enter into the coaching field.......

 

Last Game........

HS Baseball for my son meant growth, as an athlete and person. Watching how he approached a game from the time he was a freshman until he was a senior, was amazing. His last year in HS, he was fearless, and you could see it in his body that he thought no matter who stepped in the box, his stuff was better than they had. Didn't always work out that way, but you could tell by his body language that is what he thought. Still alot of work for him left to do, but I believe HS has prepared him to go forward and work hard to become successful on the field and off. As my son left the field that night, he never shed a tear, but just came up to me and said, "Dad, I love you and we had fun didn't we!"

The worst part of the last game was having 11 kids come up to me and apologize for letting me down and not winning the state. They thought that all the time we had spent together playing and traveling and spending time together was wasted when they lost. Someday when they have kids of their own and they coach, they will understand why it was never a waste, and that they became everything I ever hoped for on the field and off.

 

Lost in translation

Somehow it must get lost in the translation between Father and Son about the winning, losing, success and failure on the ballfield. They think we want or need them to win or succeed for us. What they can't understand, like Kevin said until they have kids of their own, is that we want it for them. We make those faces and grunting noises when they mess up on the field and they see us unhappy with them. When in reality we are unhappy "for" them because we know how much they want it.

I wish I could go back and do it all over again with my oldest and try to explain each time that I'm not here for me, I am here for you. When you fail I hurt for you not me. I would be more patient and alot more understanding. My son is entering his 3rd year of college this fall. WOW. Where did the time go? The 1st two years of college have flown by even faster than they did when he was in HS so enjoy each minute. I could not ask for more in a son and I am very proud of our young man.

I have an 8 year-old too so we get to see if I can practice what I preach!

 

We're in the exact same boat niknak...ain't it grand to do it all over again....different.....but grand nontheless.

 

Yes it is. I'm either alot more patient now or I'm just too old and tired to get too wound up.

It is kind of fun now to see the parents and coaches in my son's 8 year-old league get so upset over games and plays at that age. They have a long way to go. But it ain't funny when they think I am just a Grandparent. lol

 

I know exactly what you mean

 

As my son's team walked to the bus for the long ride home after our last game (a loss in the 2nd round) I wasn't sure what I'd say to him. I just said I'm sorry about the way things turned out tonight and he said "I have no regrets. I enjoyed every minute of my hs career and I left it all on the field, so I have no regrets". With that, he smiled, continued to the bus to thank his teammates for a great ride. There was none of that "lousy ump" "bad call" chitchat. And as his parents, we realized that he had learned a lot more than baseball skills over the last 4 years.

 

Where do you buy one of those Grandsons? I have 3 daughters (all married & about 30) & they can seem to find one for sale. I have all this stinkin' baseball knowledge & no one to tell it to. By the time they figure things out, I'll be too old to remember.

 

Share

Your time will come. Until then, go to your local little league or what ever you have and get you about 12 or so. If, they do not get it figured out in five to seven years. Look at what you can say at the local high school fields. That one at short is mine and that at center and that one at bat. Who knows how many little johnnies and maybe a little susie you might pass this great wisdom to.