Some great memories following your son

Another favorite memory....

When my son was a sophomore, we were playing a non conference game against a team on the opposite side of the county. My son had played with many of the other teams players on an all star team when they were 10 and 11 that my husband had helped to coach. The other team bought in a kid to pitch that had been cut from the all-star team. His dad was still holding a grudge (imagine that). When my son got up to bat, the dad yelled out...throw it by him, this kid can't hit. First pitch, my son scorches a ball down the left field line for a double. Later in the game, when he crossed home plate, I saw the catcher and my son smile at each other. After the game, I asked him what had happened. He said that the catcher (who had played on the all-star team), heard what the dad had yelled. The catcher quietly said...'fast ball, belt, high...hit this'. The catcher said that the dad and son both was obnoxious and he was pleased to help quieten them down.

Moral of the story...pitchers, make sure your catchers are your friends and hitters...it never hurts to have a bunch of catchers as your best friends!

 

hahaha...funny story

I remember this one pitcher who was crafty, but not overly fast. We always played with him or against him in HS or Showcase ball. Well, one game the parents would yell, "Wait on it" to the batters. That always made me cringe because it was disrespectful to the pitcher. But he never let it get to him. He would channel his efforts to get the batters out.

Speed up 4 years

The pitcher is playing college ball, still crafty, higher velocity, still getting batters out and winning games. The players that he pitched against have now retired their cleats, never to play baseball again.

 

Gee Braves.....that story sure does sound familiar!! Could that pitcher be anyone I know, too????

 

I love stories like this!!!

If you have to 'pull against' other kids, I don't think it says much about what you have to 'pull for'.

One of my favorite kids to watch pitch is a lh that sounds alot like the one you described. I have seen him face some really tough and confident hitters and watch the hitters walk back to the dugout wondering what just happened. This kid will be pitching at a small D1 school next year and I am sure that he'll do well!

 

That is exactly who I had in mind

 

Memories for my old age

(Tribute to our son-May 2006) Another hour plus ride down a two lane country highway with the sun setting in front of us, Trish and I drove to our son Marc's last ever baseball game last night. On the way to Creedmoor, North Carolina for the state high school baseball playoffs we reflected on the thousands of memories of watching our only son play and thought of all you that have coached him. What a ride, starting at age 6 in the Englewood tee ball league and ending at age 18 at Northern Nash High School. In between he played as far North as Cooperstown, New York, as far South as the Disney Sports Complex and believe it or not as far West as you can go in Honolulu, Hawaii at the Cal Ripken International Camp. Twelve years that will last us a lifetime as we will forever celebrate every hit he ever got, every catch he ever made and every strike he ever threw. I must tell you this is not at all a sad day for us, as you would have thought it would be, instead it is a great day to be thankful for the numerous blessings that Marc has had in his career. Just never missing a game due to injury is a big one let alone getting a game winning hit now and then. As all of you know baseball is my passion, if not my addiction, and my son gave me a wonderful gift of playing hundreds of games just so his Dad could be happy. I thank him from the bottom of my heart for putting up with me. In closing Trish and I want to thank each one of you for having helped Marc along the way.

It is time for me to say "my little baseball boy has become a man." May the Lord continue to bless his life.

 

I know that we many times look at ours sons and are amazed at what they do. Day in and day out. On and off the field. We store all these times in the gray matter we call a brain. Then one day we are just sitting around and we flashback to that time and place. It is if we are programmed to replay these events. What makes us relive these events? What makes these events more special than others? Is it time and space or the love we hold? As mine is in his senior year I tend to look back at the past, enjoying the present and dreaming of the future. Just a random thought as most of you know is common for me.

 

What a nice tribute

This is the thread for everyone to speak about the cherish moments your son has given you.

 

1st ever...

chance to take my HS baseball team MY first to the state playoffs! Us vs. Page they were loaded in 95 maybe 96 Horney and the gang...Pepe sppeeeech after BP and infield right before we take the field I end my motivational speech AS normal one two three defense..however I was such a nervous wrecxk and so excite I said A B C the kids actually or at least some startin laugin like hell and of course I said s*** oh well let s win!!! Needless to say we lost 3-2 last inning bottom half when a fly ball to the RF was lost in the sun at their place UUGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH "my fault"...what a loserr (me that is)!!! I ll never forget and I am sure the team will not oh well this is llife believe me losin no sleep here over it!

 

A bushel basket full....but none better than these...

Watching hundreds of games and practices with oldbbguy as our sons Matt & Zach played together since they were 10..... if not coaching, you could always find us down the fence-line, alone providing therapy for eachother. Also the thousands and thousands of BP piches we threw to them together. Some of the best of these times had to be watching Stretchy coach them....entertainment to the fullest!

My son asking me when he was eleven years old why Mr. Benny (Moore) didn't ask him to play on his travel team, but did ask his best friend Matt. I distinctly remember him asking me...."doesn't Mr. Benny like me?" I told him Mr. Benny loved him, but if he wanted to play on teams like that he had to get better by practicing more and working harder. He said "ok, that's what I want to do....will you help me?" Of course I said yes, but wanted to wait to see how he would pursure. The next day he called me at work and said "Dad, when you get home can we go hit and take some ground balls?" The next spring, Benny asked him to play with him although he was still not up to the same level as most of the other boys...he had improved.

Right after this he began playing with Stretchy (thanks to oldbbguy.....probably talked Stretchy into taking him)....still not the most talented, but working hard. I can remember Stretchy giving him a game ball after one of their games on the road to one of their state championships. He had played a couple of innings, but done nothing great. When Stretchy had his post-game talk with the players and parents all around he said "I'm giving this game ball to Zach because he gave up his cleats to .......(can't remember who), because he knew for them to win that kid had to stay in the game." Zach couldn't have been happier if he had hit the winning RBI.....well maybe not....but Stretchy had a way of making all his players feel special and valuable. And I give Stretchy alot of credit and thanks (as does Zach) for giving him a chance to play and having a hand in getting him to the next level.

Zach and Matt signing on the same day to play college ball.....Matt with UNCP and Zach with Campbell.

Zach having the winning RBIs against ECU and UNC last year as a freshman.......a long, but fruitful journey with alot of great friends and great times! Here's hoping there are many more to come for all of us!