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The rules are pretty simple, sort of like regular baseball. But, it’s best played when there are no rules. Then you can take the big bucket of water balloons (and water from broken balloons) and dump them on Rick’s head when he’s just about to pitch to Truman.

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I think there must be some calories burned in the game too, like when you’re running for the back door from a husband who wants revenge.

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Next time, I’m getting The BEAST.

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Photos, JWJourney, and the BEAST from www.WholesaleGoods.net

Post from: Blisstree

Beat the Heat … with a Bat or a BEAST!

I admit I was concerned when I learned that the league would be keeping score at this level. Truman promoted this year to 1A from the Rookies just by chance. He was the youngest kid on the team, and I was concerned a loss or a strike would reduce him to tears. (What ultimately did him in one day was not getting a chance to bat one inning because the previous batter got the fifth point of the inning, and innings end after three outs or five runs.) But Truman grew –physically and emotionally. He learned to stay in his zone and to throw the ball at first and to be a team player. (It helped that they never lost a game.)

But more so than last year, Rick and I began to mesh with the other parents, who showed up each Saturday with their portable chairs and whooped and hollered when any member of our team made a play –or tried to make a play, because the premise, after all, is to learn. I began looking forward to seeing the other mothers, and likewise, Rick would engage in long conversations with the three other coaches about how much the players had improved and how proud they were to see the kids playing so well.

Instead of the usual team luncheon at the pizza place to hand out trophies to the kids, Rick and I offered to have the team members and their families over to the house to celebrate following the final game of the season – the All Stars. (Truman’s team played the best players from the other teams. They didn’t win, but we’re not counting it toward our undefeated season.) Every team member and his family showed up. We had a houseful of folks, and even though the temperatures soared well into the 90s, the kids ran rampant outdoors. We grilled 80 hot dogs, served ice cream sandwiches and handed out trophies. For a joyous moment, the crowd cheered and clapped as the head coach singled out each player. He said the commissioner said the Cards were never a good team. We vowed to change that record for good. It was a proud moment.

One family lingered long after the crowd had left. We sat on the patio and sipped beer and wine as our boys played in the yard. The father said their son, who is 6, would be promoting to 2A next year, coach pitch. (It’s for 7-8-year-olds, and Truman will be 6 next year.) Rick said he was considering having Truman play for the other league. And I felt a twinge of sadness knowing this 1A Cards team would be breaking up and going its own way. I suppose every season-end for whatever team Truman plays on will affect me the same way. I’ve got a lot of growing up to do. 

We shared e-mails and phone numbers with the other parents, and made plans to get together again soon. And with any luck, during this fast-paced summer, maybe we will.

Photos, JWJourney

Post from: Blisstree

Learning the Power of Comaraderie

But this game was different. For one, Coach Todd was busy this Saturday so assistant coaches Craig and Rick had to run the game. This stressed Rick out because he was assigned the lineup, something he put a considerable amount of thought into. He didn’t want Coach Todd to find out his team had lost in his absence. Rick wanted to give each of the kids an opportunity to play different positions. But he also wanted to be sure not to favor our son with a prime position, like pitch or first base. And so Rick woke up early the day of the game to map it all out.

I didn’t want to worry Rick with the big snack decision. He had too much on his mind. So once the boys dropped off at the field, I got in the car and drove my arse clear to the next town. (It’s not that far, really. Birmingham is made up of 30-plus municipalities – and it’s kind of like standing on the Four Corners. You hop to the left and you’re in one town, and step to the right and you’re in another.)

I drove up to Krispy Kreme and I was obviously not the only person with the doughnut plan. I bought a dozen and a half of “chocolate sprinkles” and off I went

I’ll admit T-ball isn’t usually a nail-biter, but by the end of our hour Jonathon’s Mom and I were in knots. The mighty Cards were falling two points behind the Yanks when the ump said there was time for one more inning. I can’t remember the last time I cheered so loudly at a game. In the end, the Cards scored three more runs and the game was called.Our Cards remain the lead team in the league at 5-0.

After the usual hand-slaps and hoorays, the kids ran over to me and got their doughnuts.

At that moment, after clinching an elusive win, doughnuts seemed more than appropriate. I had enough left over that some kids – including Truman – had two. The team washed their sugary snack down with a soda and then hit the playground.

An hour later, as we made our way back to the car, Truman didn’t relish his team’s win. Instead, he mumbled, “I’ve got a tummy ache.”

Photos, JWJourney

Post from: Blisstree

Giving in to the Hot-n-Fresh

I’ve got a fabulous giveaway that will help you enjoy those games even more. It’s the Game Day Bag from Tessuta, made for the sporty mom by a sporty mom. The Game Day Bag is perfect for taking out to the ballgame.

Made of woven ribbon fabric, it’s durable, small, easy to get through security, and holds all essentials in 3 pockets. Adjustable strap, worn on the shoulder hands free, ideal for cheering.

Would you like to win? Just leave a message on this post by Monday, April 27th. I’ll choose a winner at random and announce the lucky guy or girl the next day.

Image: Tessuta.

Post from: Blisstree

Win a Game Day Bag

Is there anything that hits the spot more than a hot dog on game day? With baseball’s Opening Day coming up Monday April 6th, I thought you might be interested to hear there is a group of people who think the hot dog should be included in the baseball staple song, “Take Me Out To The Ball Game.”

“Take Me Out To The Ball Game,” is another age old baseball tradition, who hasn’t sung that song during the 7th inning stretch? The Hot Dog Council thinks “Take Me Out To The Ball Game” should include America’s favorite baseball munch. Here’s what they have to say about it:

“Clearly, the omission of hot dogs was inadvertent because, as the story goes, the song’s author, Jack Norworth, wrote the song in 1908 but didn’t attend a baseball game himself until 1940. We are confident that if Mr. Norworth were alive today, he would agree to alter the verse and pay tribute to America’s cultural icon. Behind ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ and ‘Happy Birthday to You,’ ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame’ is the third most sung song in the United States and we think it should be updated accordingly for the next 100 years.”

What do you think? Should a 100 year old song be changed to include baseball’s favorite food?

For additional information, visit the Hot Dog Council.

Image via sxc.hu

Post from: Blisstree

Baseball and Hot Dogs

He received his first cardiovascular work-up on August 19th after the Red Sox were defeated 13-5 by the New York Yankees. And again on Monday before they lost to the Oakland A’s.

Drugs, including anabolic steroids, can cause heartbeat irregularities, but people should not jump to that conclusion because there are many possible causes, [Dr. Michael A.] Coady said. Stress and overtraining can also make the heart beat unevenly.

As miserable as they already are (and my husband’s one of them), Red Sox fans can’t be happy to hear this.

Rhode Island News, BBC Sport, August 30, 2006

Post from: Blisstree

Red Sox Star David Ortiz in Hospital for Irregular Heartbeat