To the Dugout!, originally uploaded by cheryl.
Tonight was Connor's first official t-ball game.
The season started on Sunday with his first practice, where he got to meet his coaches and teammates and practice a few basic fundamentals of the game. Last night was something they call "clinic," where the players were split out into small groups and several coaches and assistants worked with them at different stations - one for fielding, one for throwing and catching, and one in the batting cages.
Clinic was an adventure. He started out with the right group, but somehow got mixed in with a group of older kids and spent most of the night playing way out of his league. He was with the group of 7 to 9 year-olds who had two to three years of playing experience. He was definitely small and not as skilled, but he held his own. One of the other parents even commented on his throw, even after I told him he was in the wrong age group.
Tonight was the first game. The players got their uniforms - black league t-shirts and matching black hats. Who knew the BlueJays were black, but apparently they are. There is a BlueJay mascot on the hat, at least!
We were the home team, so they took the field first. Connor was put on third for the first round. I'm not sure how much action he actually had, as I was still entertaining and supervising the twins who were not at all thrilled to be there for the third time in four nights. Have they mentioned how much baseball sucks? They're not fans, not at all. Even with snacks.
Connor also got to take a turn batting (and even had his very own bat today thanks to Uncle Brian and Cousin Austin). He managed to tell the coach he was a lefty (he's been hesitant to speak up in early practices, but we keep reminding him that he hits better from the left and today he finally set himself up that way). It took him a minute to run once he hit the ball off the tee. He seemed to think it was batting practice, and stood there waiting to hit again!
In t-ball, they all rotate positions and everyone gets to bat. They don't keep score and they hardly call outs, though there were a few when the kids managed to throw someone out at a base. Connor scored one run that I saw, but I'm not sure about the second time at bat. He played third base first and then in the outfield (meaning on the edge of the grass) between second and third for the next go around.
All in all, he did well. He seems to really like it. He pays attention to the coaches, most of the time, and listens pretty well. He watches the game and seems to be picking up some of the fundamentals. He also still takes time to wave at people (regardless of whether the ball is in play or not) and to draw or kick in the dirt. But it's t-ball. And it's fall ball. A good way to get him started, and to see if it's something he really wants to do or just something he thinks he wants to do.
So far, he really wants to. He talks about his team and his practice and his games ALL the time. He really LOVED having his own bat today. He even asked about a backpack for his bat, like some of the other (mostly the older) kids have for their equipment. Oy. So it begins ...