Ok, I’ve had several people ask me how my coaching experience went this Fall with my 12 year old little league team. So let’s just get right to the point. We only won our last game. The stress is over. We broke the curse!
However, over the season we improved drastically. My son, Casey played first base and he was a calm, cool, and collected until he missed a grounder and I yelled “CASEY! GLOVE IN THE DIRT!” For some reason I don’t think that he particularly liked the “advice”, but if you have kids and particularly if you are in a position that you are coaching your own child on a team, it seems hard not to be extra hard on him. I just want him to be GREAT, you know? Fact of the matter is he was great and I was really proud of my team sticking together and making a real run at the end of the season and finish on a high note. We closed out winning 5 to 4 in a nail biter of a game. I’m just gonna sneak in here and say that Casey made the last out. Let me set up the scenario:
It’s 5 to 4. 2 outs. Last inning, they have a man on first and the tying run on 3rd base. This kid on 3rd wants to steal home badly. This is where everything moves in slow motion: Casey and Mike are holding their men on their bases and Logan makes what will be the last pitch of the season. The batter crushes a line drive in between third and short. Gulp.
Mike, on 3rd base, makes a great stop in the dirt. The man on 3rd is going home. Man on 1st is advancing to 2nd. Mike evaluates the decision (whether to throw the runner out at home or to make the force out at 1st). He throws to first, and Casey is ready. Batter is charging first base. Mike’s throw is too hard and way too low. Gulp.
Casey stretches himself off first base and takes the short hop and snags the ball which beats the runner to first and beats the runner home. Casey KNOWS he’s done it. He throws his glove and hat in the air and the team goes into celebration mode. What a way to finish!!! Whew, thanks goodness my kid didn’t blow it! 
Ok, so there you have it. A sad season with a happy ending. To celebrate, we’ve initiated a new 5% off coupon for any product or service we offer. Between now and the end of October, 2008, use coupon code “pumpkin” and 5% of your order will disappear. It’s like a pre-halloween trick-or-treat goodie! Stay tuned. . .Ryan
