June 23, 2019: Hope

There is hope… that we will win a game this year.  Being outscored 17-1 through the 1st three games, it was not easy to see.  Someone asked me a question:  Does my son like baseball?  The answer to that question is yes; thing is, he does not like to lose.  The way our team is built this year, we knew going in, that there would be plenty of that.  It sucks to be heading to the game and my son already knowing we’re going to lose; he catches on quick.  Yet, there is no guarantee; we could win a game.  Sure, it’s not likely, but at this level, all it takes is a kid to strike out that we didn’t think would strike out, or us not hitting it right at their best player, or us not hitting it right at anybody, or some kid dropping a ball that they would normally catch, or them hitting it right to one of our players who actually makes the play.  There are so many variables, and as we get better each game, the chance of us winning slowly increases; at least that’s what I’m telling myself… that’s why I’m telling my son.  I’m trying to come at him from every angle to keep him encouraged; you worry about you getting better every game, for example.  Yes, I always try to keep him and the whole team upbeat; I think that’s part of my job.  It would be nice to win one though…  Saturday would bring probably our best chance to get one.

It started off like pretty much every other game; we were down 2-0 after the first half inning.  Then, the improbable happened.  We scored 4 runs!!!  Again, we had only scored 1 run in the first 3 games.  It was fricking great.  The kids didn’t know what to do with themselves they were so excited.  Parents were cheering loudly, probably just as surprised.  Once the dust had settled, we were leading 4-2; our first lead of the year.  I didn’t know what to do with myself; I started pacing outside the dugout, thinking this could be it… this could be the game we win.  After the top half of the 2nd, we were right back at square one, tied 4-4; that’s good… we’re not losing.  Game stayed tied until the bottom of the 3rd, when we scored yet another run; a 5-4 lead heading to kids’ pitch.  This could happen. 

At the end of the 4th inning, we still clung to that 1 run lead.  Next in line to pitch, was a kid who had never pitched before; he throws pretty wild.  I had told him the game before he would get a chance to pitch this game; I was not going to go back on that regardless of the current situation.  He was warming up, when all of a sudden he was half crying, walking to the dugout.  I guess his face got grazed with a throw back to the mound; he was going to sit out this inning.  That brought the next kid who I told would pitch; it would be his first time too, but he was a lot more accurate with his pitching.  I thought this could be OK…  Well, he did pitch well… kind of like my son… well enough for the other kids to hit the ball.  And just like with my son, the defense behind him was not the greatest.  2 runs later, we had lost the lead.

At this point, the game was already 2 hours long; the rules state that games are called at 2 hours.  So, we decided that we would take our last bats in the bottom of the 5th; we would NOT play the 6th inning.  I was fine with that, considering we had our 2-3-4 hitters up, while if they came up again, they would have the top of their lineup.  Let’s take our chances.  Only thing was, that they brought in their best pitcher; this kid can sling it… fast.  I told the kids in the dugout about this being our last chance, and also about their pitcher.  I told them since he throws so fast, all that means is that the ball is going to go farther when we hit it… and we did hit it.  First batter, sharp ground ball right at their first baseman, who picked it up and stepped on the bag.  Second batter, ground ball right back at their pitcher, throw to first for the out.  Down to our last out; we had our best hitter up.  He lined one into left field; it went through the left fielder’s legs.  He only made it to first, but that’s OK.  2 pitches later, he was standing on 3rd base.  One hit and this game is tied.  The kid who was up… the one who got grazed in the face.  He took some good swings, fouling a few off.  Then he got called out looking; game over… damn.

At the end of the day, it was another loss, but it sure felt different.  There is definitely hope for us.  Will that hope translate to a victory this year?  Who knows, but that hope, that faith, that belief goes a long way.  I feel it; I hope the kids do too… I hope my son does too.  Next up: the best team in the league.