Baseball

We love baseball season.  It's a bit crazy with four boys playing and practices starting in February, six weeks before the season even starts, but when games do begin it's so fun to watch them and cheer them on. Kade has moved up to the next level from coach pitch to kid pitch.  It's fun to see how much they have grown in a year and especially their understanding of the game.

Playing 3rd base.

Ready to hit.

Kade has also had the opportunity to pitch.  Since he's left handed I think this gives him a little more of an advantage.  Of course you always want your child to do well, and when he's pitching it's a little more pressure in wanting him to do well.

They play 6 innings or 1 1/2 hours-which ever one comes first.  They hardly make it to six innings and usually end of playing four.  They also count the pitches to make sure they don't pitch more than 40 so it doesn't hurt their arm.  This particular game Kade pitched 4 innings (the whole game), he threw 31 pitches.  He had 2 hits and 1 walk (the walk was a girl who never swings-just sayin).  It was an awesome game and I was really proud of him.  He has worked hard and he and Keith have practiced many times in the backyard.

Another favorite position of Kade's is playing catcher.  This is him squatting when there is no one on base.

This is him squatting when someone is on base so he can at least attempt to throw him out.

Rand played coach pitch this year.  Kade was on the same team last year and we really liked the coach so we put Rand on.  Rand is a good athlete, Kade is a good athlete too, but they are just different in their (how do I say) abilities.  Certain things just come more naturally for some in different areas.

Rand running home.

Scoring another run.

Rand playing short stop.  His coach likes to try the boys in every position so they know what they should be doing at each position.  

Bringing in the winning run.

Rand's team was number 1 this year.  They had their championship game yesterday and as always he wanted to be there but knows no sports on Sunday. 

Mont played machine pitch this year.  I was a little nervous about how he would do as the previous year he played t-ball and that consisted of all his baseball experience.  He surprised me and did rather well.  

Missed this ball but luckily they get a total of five balls regardless of three strikes.

Made it to first.

He hit a ball that rolled all the way to the fence giving him a homerun.

Scoring another run for the team.

Playing 3rd base.  His coach likes to move them around as well, but he usually played 3rd, short stop and occasionally left center.  He was fun to watch.  This age in general would just get a little distracted.  A bird...oh look, there is goes.  Kind of in la la land.  His team was second in his division and they had their championship game yesterday as well and came in 2nd.  All the boys coaches were on the baseball board and were just good coaches-you never know what you are going to get-but I was really happy with Mont's and will probably put him on the same team again next year.

Rhet's t-ball didn't start until three weeks ago.  We didn't know if he was going to be able to play since they wouldn't let me sign him up till he turned 4 even though he would turn 4 before the games even began.  Whenever he would talk about t-ball he would always talk as if Keith was his coach.  He would go out in the backyard and practice pitching with Keith and Kade.  To say the least he has been super excited about playing.  The day of his first game he was up early, showered and dressed all before 7:30.  He kept asking when his game was.  Unfortunately it wasn't for another three hours.  Now every week he has one practice on Wednesday and his game on Saturday.  He loves the game so much and loves to play he just can't help himself.

Keith helping out and Rhet really excited about that fact and the fact that he's going to hit the ball and get a homerun.  

Each hit-in his mind-is a homerun.

Running to 3rd base.

Keith helping him in the outfield playing 1st base.

Another highlight of playing t-ball is the treat at the end of the game.  

 Elle has been such a good cheer leader.  She has sat in her stroller in the hot sun game after game.  Luckily at Rhet's game there is a swing set that she can enjoy.

She laughed the whole time swinging.

I had to take this picture, I thought it was so cute.  Big brother helping his little sister.  Love it!

It has been a GREAT baseball season and the boys have worked hard and had some loooong nights with games and now that it has come to an end we can breathe again and prepare ourselves for next season.