End of the Season

In some ways, Jake's rookie league season ended the way it started; the last game last night was in danger of being rained (or more precisely, thunderstormed) out. We spent most of the season under the clouds instead of in the sunshine due to our weird weather this spring. Less the "boys of summer" and more the "boys of the scattered thunderstorms".

In other ways, the season was a drastic turn-around; the boys ended on a three game losing streak. They started out so strong and were undefeated until the middle of last month, then their defense caught up with them. A couple of the better hitters went into slumps to end the season and the focus in the field cost them a few games.

Jake ended up having a really good season (I lost track of his batting average along the way) but it must have been north of .700. He hit most everything hard the opposite way and his success was directly tied to the skills of the opposing pitcher and 1st baseman. He also did great in the field; playing a great 1st base, catcher, pitcher and last night made a couple of good plays out in left field. The level of the league means that the coach can't just stick the kids who can throw and catch at the hot positions every inning, so everyone get's rotated around and last night Jake ended up at shortstop for the first time this season.

The score was tied 9-9 in the bottom of the last inning with two outs and the bases loaded when the batter hit a hard one right towards Jake. He didn't stay down on it and it got thru his legs into the outfield for a run. The next hitter struck out and the game ended 10-9. I could tell he felt bad about making the error, but wasn't sure he understood the actual significance of it until Tanner announced while we were walking back to the car, "Well Dad, the score was tied until Jake missed that ball, then they scored and won. If Jake would have caught that ball it would have been a tie." Seriously, the one time all season that he's paying attention to the game and it has to be to announce that!

Jake's face just fell as he realized what it meant, that his error had cost them the game. I spent most of the rest of the night consoling him. Funnily enough, we're reading a Mike Lupica book right now when the title character makes the same error at second base and costs his team the 1st game of the championship series. We were able to talk it thru using the lessons from the book and I think he's made peace with it as it hasn't been mentioned yet this morning.

He did say last night, "But Dad, staying down on it is the first thing you taught me in baseball."

I explained that the reason it was the first thing I taught him was that it's the most difficult thing for a fielder to learn and do. That everything in you is screaming, "hurry up, get the throw off", but you have to wait until you have the ball first. Watching Sportscenter last night we saw Jason Werth with the Phillies do the exact same thing in the outfield, so I think that helped as well.

We have our end of the season party on Friday (the last day of school as well). Then I think skateboard camp is up next.....