This is a good year for baseball for both of the boys. I did hear many good things about Jackson's game pitching while I was gone.The coach said it was phenomenal, and then started him pitching again in the game this past Saturday. He pitched two innings. He's working on speed, and last night at home he tried more movement in his arm. But he has lots of accuracy, and the ball he throws is deceptive. He spends time before his throw, and gathers his focus and balance. His teammates chat him up with encouragement and back him up whenever there is a hit. Very few walks; no wild pitches. Several 1-3 outs. A really nice 6-3 play, and we're going to start seeing some nice double plays soon. His team won 12-0 against a team that was undefeated. There was some grumbling among parents and coaches on the other side of the field, but we had a great time on our side in the cool morning. Jackson had a couple of hits and a couple of strike outs, swinging. A nice bunt and some strong base running, even a couple of good slides. He played first the remainder of the game. (He needs a new glove!)
Rylee's team won 11-0 on Saturday. He played first again. I filled in as a field ump, so I got to see Ry play close-up. Early into the game, a hard hit came his way. The infield for this level is artificial turf, and the ball comes hard and fast. Rylee got in front of the ball, which came off the turf fast, off his glove and into his chest and cheek. Ry didn't miss a beat, scooped up the ball and ran to first for the out. Another hit was very wide off first and I watched Ry scoop it up and drive to first faster than I'd ever seen. I could see the determination in his face. The batter also was running hard to first. I called the runner safe, but I told Ry later that his coach thought he'd beaten the runner to the bag. Ry also scored several times, a nice slide into second, and a good hit into shallow right field, where the real grass, cut long, stops most hits. Both boys batted in the no. 2 spot.
By the last couple of innings, the day had warmed considerably. I started thinking seriously about hydration for myself, and I noticed the players on both teams were getting worn down. By contrast, Jackson's game was in the early morning, still quite cool, and I watched him joking with the coaches about computers at the start of the game. Last night, as the boys played catch in the front yard, Jackson pitching, Rylee catching and calling balls and strikes, I wondered if this will be something they do in years to come. At one point in the morning, they just got pissed with each other and started fighting. Rylee got his feelings hurt, Jackson tried to make it right, and Rylee retaliated. After telling them they were both wrong, and both right, I made them shake hands. They thought that was funny. We wrapped mom's birthday present and signed a card the boys' found, and later we baked a cake.
Rylee went to the school's spring fling on Friday evening. It was like a special two-hour recess for him. He played with his second-grade classmates, first on the inflated jumpers and slides and then on the regular playground. The kids were shouting "onomatopoeia". They knew what it meant, but I think they did it for the penultimate syllable. Lots of kids and parents. I waited in line for pizza slices for me and Ry, and then got him to join me in the faster line for the shaved ice.
I'm ending with a few snapshots I took on my phone. The first is Ry's desk. It shows many of his Lego sets: buildings, ships, all sorts of cruisers and minifigures; some comic books and a book he's reading; and the two sea urchin shells. The second is Jack's desk, with the two monitors, and maybe you can make out the microphone and a small speaker and lots of plug ins coming off the side. Since the boys don't read this blog now, I'm pretty sure, I didn't think they'd mind this glimpse. And maybe it would be fun to see later. The third is a pic I didn't use from the White Sands trip but I think it may be interesting to post.
Today is cool with a mild breeze, a touch of dampness, that reminds me of my time near the ocean. Big white fluffy cumulus clouds lolling about in the sky above in all directions makes me think rain is coming.
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