We've always played baseball (Keaton, that is) - usually in Fall and Spring. Tryout weekends, batting cages, fielding at the church, on-again-off-again conditioning. But this year Murph's in HIGH SCHOOL. That's different. Spring baseball will actually be played in the Spring. And it won't come with a ridiculous price tag should he make the team. Sigh. Of. Relief. We can really use a break on the high price tag sports this year!
Anyway, this is Texas, so there is a Football class and a Baseball class in HS athletics. Keaton chose Football because he loves playing school football. He loves the camaraderie, the conditioning, the drills, the uniforms, the equipment, the games, the being-a-part-of. And I love the fact that he loves playing a sport that is not his natural disposition. He is sweet. He is gentle and sensitive. He cares about others. He is not aggressive. He is not violent or full of rage. He is not a trash-talker. He is not giant. But he loves to play football with his schoolmates.
Guess what? He loves football, but he LOVES baseball. But because he wanted to play football, he couldn't choose the Baseball class. Thank goodness for Patrick - he was able to find out about and get Murph into the Fall Central Baseball team. But he is still at a disadvantage. He is not in the Baseball class. He takes his gear every day just in case the Football coach lets them (there are 5 of these "living between two worlds boys") work out with the Baseball class. Most days he comes home with tales of lifting and studying football plays - and the stories are good ones. Full of laughter and pride in some weight lifting first. But they are always followed with a quiet sigh (just loud enough for a mother to hear) that he didn't get to work out with the Baseball team. He's worried that this will put him at a disadvantage come time for try-outs. He is a young man who would never question his coaches. Who is not ready to bulldoze his way into what he wants or thinks is right. So he goes to Football and he does whatever he is challenged to do...but he loves baseball. Sadly, he's not the biggest kid and he's still not reached his athletic potential. He's sprouted quite a bit this year - officially taller than his mom and leaner (thanks to eating at home every meal and packing a healthy lunch every day), but he's not in the Baseball class so the coaches will have to base their assessment of him on a snapshot. That's a lot of pressure for a boy who loves baseball.
Last week we got word (thanks again to Patrick) that try outs are this weekend. YIKES! Murph hasn't swung a bat or fielded a ball for a couple of months...did I mention he hasn't been allowed to work out with the Baseball class??? So off to D-Bat. To hit. And hit. And hit. And today, to go to a clinic to field and run and throw and pitch and hit with a group of other young men.
His hands are raw. His ribs and core are achy. He got his baseball hair cut. He dug out his gear. He is hitting better every day he goes to the cages. Prayers are being said, positive thoughts sent out. Encouraging words being said. Motivational stories being told. Baseball season that depends on a try out is tougher than baseball season that depends on a checkbook and comes with history with coaches and other players...c'mon Murph!
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