Coach-Pitch Baseball

After I had committed to being a part of the retreat team we found but that last weekend (the retreat) was also Opening Day in our little Midwest town. What is the world is Opening Day, you ask? Well, our town, technically not even a town, but a 'Village', is known in these-here parts for two things. It's schools and it's athletics. But mainly, the athletics. And not just high school athletics. They start them young. In every sport. I'm talking fall and spring soccer starting in kindy. Full-pad,full-contact football starting in 1st grade. Wrestling-- full contact in kindy. T-ball at age 5 for two years, then on to coach pitch baseball or to softball. Oh yeah, then there is cheerleading and basketball and I'm sure I've missed a few, but I think you get the idea. We start 'em young and work 'em hard. By the time they're in high school they know their stuff and they win. Always.
It's a little hard core for our taste, but right now he's only in baseball and we really appreciate the coach he has this year -- same as last -- who is about teaching the boys the fundamentals rather than winning. Winning is fun, but there is more to learn from sports than just that. Now that you know what keeps the Villagers busy...

Back to Opening Day...
The day began early with pictures. I'm usually the one that gets things together & makes sure all is ready, but because I wasn't going to be around & had my own weekend to deal with, it just wasn't on the top of my list. I left without even checking to see if the pants we bought fit and we didn't know what color his team was until pictures that morning so we didn't have socks to match...poor Adam had lots of running around to do in between pictures and the game -- sorry Hon!
Here is Kabe's team. Half the team is actually in his class (1st graders) and then there are at least two 2nd graders (the tall guys) on the team too. And yes, there is one girl on the team -- but don't tell her she's a girl...she's total tom-boy! =)


After pictures all teams, from t-ball through the high-school, boys and girls, join in for a parade where they drive through town - twice - and throw candy. It's a VERY big deal. Kids love it. Adam usually takes pictures and I scurry after candy. Remember - I wasn't there and you're looking at pictures--Kabe was not very happy he didn't get candy off the ground.


This year, as soon as the parade was over, Kabe's team had about 15 minutes to get to the field and get ready to play ball. They did get to warm up a little bit.


Kabe is a pretty good hitter and most of the kids on his t-ball teams the last two years have been pretty good hitters and haven't used the 'T' to bat, so it seemed weird to us that this is called 'coach-pitch' when he's always had a coach pitch to him. We learned right away that there are several differences between t-ball and coach-pitch: no 'T' (duh...), there are strikes and outs, score is kept, only 5 runs per inning per team, catchers are used, oh and they only use the correct number of players on the field instead of the 17 players on the team scattered around the field so everyone can play. =) There may be more, but that's all I'm coming up with right now. This team is rotating players throughout positions because in three years, although everyone will make a team, everyone will try out for a position & will be placed based upon how well they play. Kabe wanted to try out the catcher gear.


Turns out being the catcher is hard because you have to actually catch the ball, plus its tiring.


Kabe really likes to bat and is still learning that playing outfield has its merits too. He is a pretty good batter, especially considering the parents he has to work with. Thank goodness grandpa-that-fishes comes out once in a while to help out & teach him a thing or two each summer.



Even though I'm sad I missed it, Adam captured it well with these photo's. It's looking like this is going to be one fun season! We can hardly wait to see how the team progresses. We've only just begun and won't be done until the middle of June....I'll keep you posted!