Wrapping Up Another Season of Baseball

I really hope Evan enjoyed this season of playing baseball.  He really made so much progress in the sport and continued to show a lot of skill at the sport.  He hit consistently well all season, he improved his game in the field, and he learned that he really likes playing catcher and was one of the best catchers on any team.  Even though the equipment swallowed his small frame, he could move better than other players in the gear and could catch the fast pitches and quickly get up to throw the ball and make a play.  He could also throw it harder than most of the other players wearing the bulky equipment.  There were good parts and bad parts to the season.  I hated to see how hard Evan was on himself for things that really weren't his fault.  If he was thrown out at first, he would hang his head and act so sad despite my trying to encourage him that he did his best and ran hard and that sometimes that happens.  We worked on helping him learn to hit the ball more towards third base in the end and that really helped him get safely to base.  Our team seemed to have the toughest playing schedule of the season, playing the top teams in the league more times while the other teams got to play less ranked teams more.  The last game of the season was his and his other teammates' best game.  They were in the lead for most of the game by 10 points so it was very disappointing that the umpire called several very bad plays that were against the rules of the league and cost our players the lead and the win.  They really deserved that win!  Due to the umpires not knowing the rules and costing our team several games this season, the baseball commissioner did send Eddie and our coach an e-mail apologizing for what had happened and promising that things would change for next season.  While that helped soften our disappointment, we do hope that it will help the league improve.  Coaches and umpires should read the rules so that all play fair and are teaching their kids the same proper way to play.  Regardless, our boys played like champs even through some tough moments!

Safe at first!

And going to second.

Heading to third!  Go Evan!

Our favorite coach!

Cousin Lanny at bat to bring cousin Evan safely home!

I just love his determined little face.  

An end of game line up. 

Coach Bill giving an end of game pep talk.  

Coach Eddie prepares to give the game ball to a player.  Evan got a game ball one game for hitting four R.B.I.'s.  

Love this shot of him beating the ball to first!

He's safe!

I love that I caught him looking at the camera.  I was standing behind outfield here because we had to play a few games at another league's field which was set up differently. 

My #7!

Evan made it to third. 

And home!

Yay Evan!

Brody enjoyed playing on the playground at this field. 

He needed to wear a hat because it was so hot, and I thought his Mickey hat would insure he actually wore it and didn't take it off. 

Cousin Emma watching him play the kindle. 

We played this game at a different field because our league's fields were closed because of our annual PGA golf tournament  taking place down the road.  Most of the parking in the area has to be used for the tournament during this time because it is such big event.  The MetLife blimp was flying over the tournament. 

Ready for another big hit.

I just can't believe how much he has grown in his four years of playing ball. Sigh. 

With the hotter weather and sunnier weather during our last games, Evan wanted some new shades to wear on the field.  He looks so cool in his new shades. 

My little man was a champ at catcher!

Lanny prepares to make another big hit.  He played a very good season of baseball as well and makes a great second baseman!

I love that I caught his handsome face here. 

Safe at second. 

Evan getting his trophy and some special words of encouragement from his Coach at the end of season celebration. 

My sweet little red head.

Aunt Jessica was the team mom, and she made the boys some little treat bags and brought some yummy cupcakes.

Okay, so I have to admit these cupcakes from Whole Foods were the best store bought cupcakes I have ever eaten.  I will definitely be buying future cupcakes from there. 

Eating cupcakes is serious business apparently.

I know Evan and Lanny and the other boys don't look very happy, but they really were having a great time. 

And Brody enjoyed his blue cupcake.

Now that baseball season is over, we are looking forward to a less hectic schedule for the summer.