A boy who loves Baseball

[JavaBrewer]

My son Zachary who will turn 10 this March loves baseball. He loves absolutely everything about the game and for the last 2 years has worked his butt off to get better. I grew up never playing the game and until recently never understood the attraction to the sport. So here we are 4 years since T-ball and Zack has made it his mission to be the best. I had to buy a glove, my first, to throw with him in the backyard. The last few years we have invested major time, tears, and a bit of cash, helping him achieve his dream. Today was a huge day for him, the San Marcos 10-U Stallion try outs. We got a call tonite from the team manager who asked to include Zack on his A team. There were kids there who were more natural athletes but none of them love the game or has more respect for the sport than Zack. He sleeps tonite in his bed not yet knowing the news. Tomorrow will be a HUGE day for him, for us. As parents there is nothing more rewarding than seeing your son/daughter achieve their goals. Congratulations Zachary, we love you!

Live is good!

[pwd72s]

Kudos and best wishes to Zachary...May he develop enough to be a Beaver some day in the future... Oh, to the non baseball fans here, the Oregon State Beavers are the collegiate national champions....GO BEAVERS!

[Joeaksa]

Good for him and support him all you can. Make him live his dreams and it will be good for everyone involved.

Joe

[jim72911t]

Congratulations to your son (and you)! I've been a volunteer little league coach for 5 seasons and let me tell you, kids like your son, who truly love the game, are an absolute joy to be around, and make the game more fun for the other kids, the parents, and of course, us coaches.

(Far too often, the kids are there because their dads push them into it, making them resent both their dad and the game itself.)

Unfortunately, due to a change in jobs, I am unable to coach this year , but your post reminded me of why I did it in the first place.

Thanks for sharing, and have fun out there!

Jim

[ZOO]

Great to see young kids involved in baseball. It is such a fantastic game, and often doesn't get the respect it deserves these days.

[gchappel]

I was lucky enough to coach early baseball for several years, coached county allstars, etc. Then my son for some reason decided he loved rollerskating- which I knew NOTHING about. He loved it, was state champ a couple of years and took a bronze at nationals. My daughter was a nationally ranked cheerleader and is now captain of her collage squad. What did I learn? At least with my kids, they were happier when I was a parent and not a coach- and didn't try to play a coach at home. Play with the kids- don't call it practice. Be on their side when they screw up on the field- not the coach that goes over the play again and again. Let his coachs coach- unless they are doing something dangerous stay out of it. Enjoy it as the game and as a parent of a player. It is hard to stay out of the coaching realm at home- did you practice, did you lift, why did you strike out- lets go practice batting. Instead keep it play, and enjoy the games!
Gary

[deathpunk dan]

congrats to your son!
I was *obsessed* with baseball from age 10-13. I was one of the shortest and skinniest players on every team I was on, but I went from being the kid you put in the game just long enough to satifsy the minimum playing time requirements (ie 2 inning in right field and one at bat) to a few years later making the all star team, and even making the high school varsity team as a sophmore and being on the 1994 state championship team. I went to every baseball clinic and camp within 200 miles and drove my parents insane.

Bill Lee - who I discovered when I was not quite 12 years old (so you *know* I was a weird little kid) said

"Baseball is the belly button of America"

I love to see kids getting into the game nowadays, with so many districts and towns showing plummeting little league enrollment numbers. When was the last time you saw kids even playing a pickup game or even just playing catch???

[azasadny]

Congrats!!!

[craigster59]

I have loved baseball since I can't even remember. My Uncle played Semi-Pro and Joe Rudi was my idol. I played until age 35 and still miss it greatly. Carry the torch Zack.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Huge Congratulation David.

My son Thomas played T ball from age 5 and began playing pretty much year round after age 12. Perennial All Star Centerfielder, 1st base and believe it or not had some quality time at Catcher even though he is left handed! You can put on a hell of a throw against runners attempting to steal 3rd if you're a lefty!

He was good enough to be brought up from Frosh high school ball to Varsity for tournament play when he was a freshman, then stopped playing to pursue swimming. He was a really good swimmer and waterpolo player, All CIF but....

He grew to 6-2, q75 lbs by his Senior year and is a HARD throwing left hander - Doh! I will always wonder what could have been!

But the bottomline is you'll spend a lot of quality time with your boy and there is no replacement for that. My son is now 26 and married, but he and I still converse by text message or phone daily. I thank God for him. He's the best thing in my life, nothing else comes close. Best to you, Dan

[Joeaksa]

David,

What did he say when you told him???

Joe

[JavaBrewer]

Hi Folks - wow thanks for the support and kudos for Zack! Honestly I felt strange gloating over my kid's accomplishment here but figured you're all friends

Once my wife and I had our coffee in hand we called Zack over and asked for his take on how the tryout went. As we discussed the details he started getting his big goofy grin. He then excitedly asked "Did I make the practice squad???" No son, you made the team. Silence. "You mean I get to wear the uniform?". My wife started to crack up here. "Yes buddy, you ARE ON THE TEAM". He was very excited but still reserved "Will I get to travel with the team and play games?". Yes Son, you ARE ON THE TEAM. We explained that he will have to earn his game time and give 200% to his coaches. "Dad, want to throw the ball with me?". Yes son, but let me finish my coffee ok.

Now comes the little league stereotype. We are expecting some backlash from members of the community, especially those whose son's were displaced from the team. As I said previously there were some awesome players that did not make team. All the kids that tried out are incredible players and leaders on their rec ball teams. The three team coaches have assured us that Zack earned his spot on this team with his skills (throwing and fielding), his work ethic and commitment, and for his love and respect of the game.

Oh and Dan, Zack was the starting catcher this last Winter ball season. His two Christmas wishes were an iPod Nano and catchers gear. He won't be playing catcher on the Stallion team as they are loaded there but he will continue the position on his rec team. He's got terrific hand/eye coordination and a gun to throw down 2nd and 3rd but needs work on blocking and overall field leadership.

Good times for sure.

[Kevin G.]

David -

Congratulations! You're in for a hail of a good time. Like you, I grew up not playing baseball (football, soccer & golf), but my son was hooked on PLAYING baseball since his first t-ball game. Emphasis on playing - he had good natural talent, but not the determination that seperates the good from the great, and we didn't want to push him even though we and his coaches could see the possibilities.

He still loves the game, and is playing club baseball for the ASU team. When he went to JC, he quit baseball for a few years because he didn't like the attitude of the players at that level - the constant backstabbing as he called it took the fun of the game out of it.

He started out in North SD county as well - we lived in Fallbrook from 1990 - 1998. There are some very good club (travelling) teams in the area that will help considerably in your son's development. My son played for the Reds for a while, I believe there is also a quality club team based in San Marcos as well.

There also was an excellent batting facility located in the Vista / Escondido area that helped his batting tremendously, but I can't remember the name. The unique part was the machines were set to pitch from the correct height (ball coming down simulating actual pitcher delivery), and you could get the speed set to the appropriate level for the batter.

My experience with my son's growing up through baseball is something we will both cherish throughout our lives. Just last night I got a call from him after his club team played a practice game with a D2 college team. 2-2, triple, 3 rbi's. It just keeps on paying dividends.

Best of luck to your son and you.

Kevin

[gassy]

Ahh that's great. congrats. My 8 yr old loves baseball, and even in the winter we toss a ball around in the house. I recently gave him my BBcard collection and he's in heaven.

[goat]

Great story. Congrats!!.
O think this phrase from you says it all.

"There were kids there who were more natural athletes but none of them love the game or has more respect for the sport than Zack."

With that he will go far.

[Les Paul]

My son was an allstar in baseball and football through middle school. I bought him a guitar when he was 8. He was the starting quarterback and middle linebacker his 8th grade year until he broke his thumb on his left hand and his right arm. He knew he broke his thumb in the first quarter but they told him it was just jammed and he played the rest of the game and got his arm slammed by a helmet in the 4th quarter. He missed the next 6 games with casts from elbow to fingers on both arms but finished up the season starting the last 2 games. He couldn't play his guitar the those 6 weeks and that bugged him more than missing the games. The doctor told him he was lucky he didn't have permanent nerve damage in his left hand. He lasted one more year in sports. His heart was never in sports again after that. It killed me because I lived for sports in high school. He has had 4 bands through high school and has one CD out with another in the works. For the next three weekends he will be at state competition in speech and debate. The only kid from his high school to ever make it to the 3 different state competions.

I had visions of him playing D1 football or baseball. We played catch with either a baseball or football year round from the time he could walk. I know I miss it way more than he does. My point, enjoy this time like no other. It may all be over before you know it. I'm very proud of his debate skills and I know he is good because he could convice you the sun will rise in the West.

[JavaBrewer]

Well this has certainly been a year of hard knocks for us and unfortunately it ended last night in a very bad manner. Warning long rant to follow...

To achieve success/happiness on a baseball team requires much more than effort and devotion from the players. It also hinges on navigating the murky political waters of play time and coaches/favorites kids. My son is also handicapped with a Dad who never played ball and came about as green as they come. No prior experience = zero credibility. I'm generally a pretty good judge of character but realized last night that I was way way wrong on this one.

Zack finished the '07 season with his team and was invitied to return in Jan '08 playing as 11U. In the off season the team broke away from the recreational league and joined a local group of 8 travel teams from 9U to 14U. The season started off very well for my son. Three of the coaches kids were unavailable for the first 5 games so Zack got lots of play. He was hitting .400 (3rd highest on the team) with 30 plate appearances, played 4 of the 6 innings, and rarely made an error in the field. His confidence was swelling and we could not be prouder.

Things began to change when the coaches boys and their friends, this team has been together for many years, recovered from various injuries and commitments to start rotating into the line up. No problem, I know my son is not the best player, but he is easily as good as half the other kids. Zack's playtime dropped to 2 innings, then 1, then none, and was a stranger to the batting lineup. Boys hitting .125 were given priority and if Zack did make the lineup it was dead last. He remained hopeful and optimistic...

Things got really bad at our first big tournament in PHX. Out of 4 games Zack played 3 innings and got 3 at bats. Hummm...this really sucks. The coaches response was "I play the boys who I'm most confident in". Not much a Dad can do with that other than spend more time at the field and offer the team any/all assistance.

Back at home Zack really stepped up at the team practices (the only boy to not miss a single BP or field practice) and the coaches were always quick to praise him. We played a local game and he was given opportunity which he converted into 2 dbls, 4 rbi, a walk, and 6 outs at LF and CF.

This weekend we played another tournament and in the first early morning game Zack lost a ball into the sun in LF that scored a run. He hit a long shot to RF that was caught out and walked. Coaches were fuming on the error and benched him as punishment. The team went on to play 5 more games and win their division and in that time Zack got 3 pinch hit opportunities. He struck out twice and on his lone double was replaced with a different base runner.

The really difficult thing to watch, as a parent, is for your kid to walk on egg shells worried about an error while the starting crew make multiple errors every game and get a pass as your son gets benched. I feel his coaches handled the situation incredibly poorly this weekend and it came to a head in the championship game. Before the game I offered Zack the option of going home but he insisted he wanted to stay and support his team. He was breaking inside and tears streamed from his face as he whispered "I have to try...maybe the coach will let me bat one more time". I was wrecked with grief and wanted to save him but I let him make the call.

At the top of the final inning, with zero play time, we made eye contact in the dugout. I gave him a thumbs up and he smiled weakly and turned away. I suddenly realized this was completely insane. I was letting the coaching staff get away with child abuse in front of my nose. I walked calmly to the dugout and told him to gather his things, it was not his fault, and that the team did not deserve a boy with his heart and courage. The coaches stood there listening but not really paying attention.

I took my son home and you know what? Despite loving the game, achieving his dream of playing with the *big dogs*, he didn't look back. In the parking lot we could hear the cheers as his team made the final out and won the tournament and he looked to me and replied "My coaches think I'm worthless. I don't want to play with them anymore".

This is going to take some time to repair but we will get through it. The one thing they did not damage is his love for the game. He begged me to just throw with him when we got home and we did until it became too dark for my 45 yr eyes to see the ball.

I am disgusted with the coaching staff. I thought I had measured them correctly but in the end all four of them failed my son as coaches and more importantly as humans. We are now officially taking a break, preparing for the upcoming pop-warner season, and will probably re enter the recreational league for 12U. Thanks for letting me vent.

Love ya Zack!

[nostatic]

This is one reason I'm glad that Calvin isn't really into team sports.

Sorry to hear about it, but maybe there is another league? I don't know the structure of things, but when I was a kid there was at least always a pickup game to be played. If he can keep his love of the game and find others to practice with, then when he hits HS he can start playing organized ball again.

I coached t-ball when Calvin was 6 and I had a few parents complain because my practices were "silly" and that they weren't going to help them win games. I had them sitting on the ground rolling balls to each other, doing races around the bases, along with typical hitting and fielding. My reasoning was that they are 6 years old, it should be fun, and they need to learn eye-hand coordination and the basics. But some parents just cared about the end result...can't have their son/daughter on a losing team.

I remember when I was in little league, I was on some losing teams but I didn't really care. Because I was playing baseball. Geez, who cares if you lose? It's a game, and what better place to learn those lessons...

[gassy]

As a dad of a baseball kid, (9 yrs) this is a real bummer. I remember when you first posted this--you and Zack were so excited. The coach is a frustrated douche that needs to not be coaching. Zack is too young to go through that--but it seems like he handled it with dignity. As did you.
Go play catch again and muss up his hair for me.
c

[Seahawk]

Very sorry for Zack since I share his love of baseball.

It is unfortunate that coaches can be so callus, but it has always been so.

Best thing, in my mind? Use this as a great opportunity to explain that adults/authority figures can and do make mistakes, that he has done his best and that is where the value is in all sports, doing your best unencumbered by the opinion of others.

Honestly, we all know when we have given it our all. Your post makes it clear Zach is one of those kids. Focus on that.

I didn't express myself well in this post...just let him know that his effort has value beyond the opinion of his coaches

And muss up his hair for me as well.