Batter Up!

Fall ball has begun!  Ethan has been counting down the days since the end of last season until he could play baseball again.  Their first game was Saturday after exactly three practices.  Ethan came home after practice to tell me that he would be the opening pitcher for their first game -- Ethan has never, no never, pitched before -- apparently, the tongue helped with his aim.

Very interesting form!

The good news: he did not hit any batters, and he did throw a strike. The bad news: he walked 6 runs before the dreaded coach-to-the-mound pow wow.

Yes, he did catch this!

Good game boys!

After the game, Ethan was pretty upset and muttered something about never playing baseball again.  I wish he could really know how very proud I was of him, and how I was in awe of the fact that he walked out to that pitching mound and threw his pitches with virtually no training at all, and no fear.  I know that he did his best, and he pitched his little heart out, but he can't see that; he only sees the loss.

It breaks my heart a little to see him so sad after being so excited.  I wish I had the magic words to help him see what he did accomplish and to help him to know that winning isn't everything, but, at 9 years old, winning is kind of everything.