July 29, 2017: Our Very Own Crosstown Classic

Due to the rainout last week, and a re-scheduling glitch, it was our 4-6 year old Cubs matched up against the White Sox in a double header this weekend.  It was our very own Crosstown Classic.  It started off the same way the real Crosstown Classic did.

Friday night has not been good to us.  We’ve only played 3 games at that 6pm Friday evening timeslot, and each one of them has not went well.  From kids who weren’t interested in running to the return of the pileup, it was an ugly performance.  The White Sox didn’t do that much better, but they did enough for me to tell my kids we lost that game.  The coach of the White Sox overheard me telling the kids that during the lineup to shake hands after the game.  I told her, yeah, I think you guys got us this game.  She smiled.

Saturday was a different story.  It was that magical 1130am start time on Saturday; it’s that timeframe where we play our best ball.  In the first inning alone, we recorded more outs than we did Friday.  At the end of the three inning affair, we recorded approximately 10 outs; it went something like 3, 4, 3 outs in each respective inning.  The kids were running hard.  That actually came into play a few times at first base, where there were bang-bang plays, with our team getting the better of them in each instance.  I was super proud of the kids; I guess I always am.

It’s no question that I’m proud of my son at all times; that’s not saying he’s immune to the issues that affect our entire team.  He sometimes doesn’t run his fastest.  He sometimes is right in the middle of a pile up.  He sometimes wrestles with his teammate for pre-hit positioning.  He sometimes doesn’t listen.  I’ve been told this will afflict kids for at least a few more years before they completely get it; some never will… some already have.  But for his first year in organized baseball, he’s done awesome; I have to have that same mindset with all of the kids I’m coaching.
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I was telling them they did really good after Saturday’s game.  I’m always telling them good job, for whatever they do, whether that’s a good hit, a good play on the field, or hustling in general.  I don’t always pour it on that thick at the end of the game, if the game, like Friday, was a disaster.  But after a game like Saturday, they all deserve to hear that they did great.  I think positive reinforcement is key here, especially for all these rookies.

With only 2 games remaining, have I seen a difference from the beginning of the season?  Yes.  Most of the kids are hitting the ball when I pitch to them; that was not the case week 1.  There are far less pileups on the field; yes, when the ball gets past them, and 4 kids take off running after it, that will most likely end in a pileup, but… I’d still say they’re down by about 50-75% depending on what game we’re talking about.  Kids are getting better at throwing the ball.  Although only accurate about 50% of the time, at least they are throwing it better.

I expect a great game in the regular season finale that is scheduled for 1130am next weekend, however, for the 930am “championship game”, which will settle the score in our Crosstown Series, it may be a crap shoot.  Mandatory 10 hours of sleep and good breakfast for everybody that game.  Maybe I’ll bring granola bars so everybody can power up before the game…  Go Cubs!