From the sidelines
For the final edition of my T-ball series I planned on writing about the entire season when it was over.
However, after my first experience June 4 as the "head coach" during a game, I had to write something now.
As I told some people after the game, I felt like I was running around like a chicken with its head cutoff the whole time.
(By the way, it would have seemed even more so without the help of other coaches and parents, so thank you).
Trying to make sure seven five- and six-year-olds were constantly paying attention the whole time was nearly impossible.
Teaching them to hustle in and out of the dugout was a struggle as well. I'm making a note to practice that before the season next time I coach.
But, I can understand why playing in the dirt could seem more fun than chasing around a little ball that half the time someone else ended up with anyway.
Of course, when it came time to hit the ball, no one was bored.
And I'll tell you, my guys could hit.
Some of them hit it to the grass on the fly, some specialized in ground balls, and others smoked line drives.
Everyone had at least one pretty good shot in five at-bats, and only once or twice did a base runner take off after the ball instead of to second base.
And when they do that, all you can do is laugh and show them where to go.
It's funny, because I used to find it brutal to watch T-ball when my younger brother played.
Now, I think it's more entertaining than high school. No offense Warriors, but if one of you guys ran to right field to pick up the ball and hand it to the outfielder, it just wouldn't be as funny.
We played the squad made up of all girls, and with some other activities going on, only five of the 14 were able to show up.
But those five could play.
Not one struggled hitting the ball, and I think some of them were faster than most of my players.
They didn't hit the ball quite as hard, but they also didn't seem to whine as much as the boys either.
After five innings, countless "home runs," and even a minor injury, everyone left the field happy after playing a good game.
Either that, or it was the Gatorade they got after the game.
Mike can be contacted at mnorris817@gmail.com, or 620-382-2165.
